\ 


FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.   D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE  LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


/^^-/6 


APR  22  1932  ^ 


HANDBOOK 

OF    THE 

GENERAL  CONVENTION 

OF   THE 
GIVING 

ITS  HISTORY  AND  CONSTITUTION,  1785-1880. 


WILLIAM  STEVENS  PERRY,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

BISHOP  OF  IOWA, 

LATE   SECRETARY  OP   THE   HOUSE  OP    DEPUTIES,   AND  HISTORIOGRAPHER 
OP  THE  AMERICAN  CHURCH. 


New  York  : 
THOMAS     ^WHITTAKKR, 

2  and  3,  BIBLE  HOUSE. 
1881. 


COPYKIGHT,  1881. 
BY 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS. 


Inteoduction xiii-xiv 

The  Preliminary  Meetings,  1784 1-7 

Minutes  of  informal  Meeting  at  New-Brunswick,  1,  2 ; 
The  "  Broadside"  Proceedings  of  October  6tli,  3,  4  ;  Fun- 
damental Principles  of  Union,  4 ;  Additional  Particulars, 
5-7  ;  Choice  of  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  5 ;  Clergy  of 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  unwilling  to  take  active 
Measures,  6  ;  Appointment  of  Clerical  Examiners  recom- 
mended, 6  ;  Notices  of  representative  Men  who  were 
Members  of  the  Preliminary  Convention,  6,  7. 

The  Convention  of  1785 8-43 

Organization  of  Convention,  8  ;  The  Subject  of  Alte- 
rations in  the  Liturgy  referred,  8  ;  Action  respecting, 
9-12  ;  The  "  Fourth  of  July"  to  be  observed,  10  ;  Ap- 
pointment  of  an  annual  Day  of  *'  Thanksgiving,"  10  ;  Ar- 
ticles as  amended,  referred  to  next  Convention,  11  ;  Read- 
ing and  Singing  Psalms,  and  Kalendar  of  Lessons  to  be 
appended  to  Prayer-Book,  13  ;  the  "  General  Ecclesiastical 
Constitution,"  12-15  ;  Correspondence  between  Bishop 
Seabury  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  White,  15-18  ;  Address  to  the 
English  Archbishops  and  Bishops  asking  for  the  Succession, 
18-22;  Notices  of  the  "Proposed  Book,"  22-25  ;  The 
"  Alterations  "  comprised  in  the  ' '  Proposed  "  Book,  25-34  ; 
The  Proposed  Articles  of  Religion,  34-39 ;  The  Table  of 
Holy  Days,  40  ;  The  Reception  of  the  "  Proposed  Book," 
40,  41 ;  Notices  of  Editions  of  this  Work,  41,  42. 

The  Conventions  of  1786 43-62 

The  Convention  in  Philadelphia  (June),  43-50  ;  Organi- 
zation, 43  ;  Opposition  to  Bishop  Seabury,  43,  44  ;  Address 
to  the  English  Prelates,  44-46  ;  Changes  in  the  Constitu- 


]V  CONTEXTS. 

lion,  47,  49  ;  Influence  of  a  Memorial  from  New-Jersey, 
50  ;  Letters  from  the  Archbishops,  50-56. 

The  Adjourned  Convention  in  Wilmington  (Octo- 
ber), 56-61  ;  "  An  Act  of  the  General  Coitvention,"  56-59  ; 
The  Restoration  of  the  omitted  Clause  in  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  50,  51  ;  the  Rejection  of  the  Athanasian  Creed,  51  ; 
The  Refusal  to  sign  the  Testimonials  of  the  Bishop -elect 
of  Maryland,  60,  61  ;  The  Consecration  of  Bishops  White 
and  Provoost,  61,  62. 

The  Conventions  of  1789 63-77 

The  Convention  in  Philadelphia  (July),  63-71 ;  The 
Application  from  the  Clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  Nsw- 
Hampshire  for  the  Consecration  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bass, 
63-65  ;  Resolutions  adopted  by  the  Convention  respecting 
the  Application,  65,  66  ;  Further  Proceedings,  66,  67  ;  Ca- 
nons adopted  at  this  Convention,  67-70 ;  Death  of  the 
Bishop-elect  of  Virginia,  71. 

The  Adjourned  Convention  in  Philadelphia  (Sep- 
tember and  October).  Union  of  the  C  hurches,  71  ;  Organi- 
zation of  the  two  Houses,  71  ;  Adoption  of  a  Liturgy,  71- 
73  ;  Further  Proceedings,  73,  74  ;  The  Change  of  Art.  3  of 
the  Constitution,  74,  75  ;  Proposal  of  a  full  Negative  on  the 
lower  House  for  the  Bishops,  75  ;  Record  of  the  adhesion 
of  Bishop  Seabury  and  the  New-England  Deputies  to  the 
Constitution,  75  ;  Views  of  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut 
respecting  the  Athanasian  Creed,  76  ;  Misunderstanding  as 
to  the  printing  of  the  Clause  in  the  Apostles'  Creed,  "  He 
descended  into  Hell,"  76,  77  ;  The  "  Selections  of  Psalms," 
77. 
The  Convention  of  1792 78-83 

Organization,  78  ;  The  first  American  Consecration,  78  ; 
The  Rule  providing  for  the  Presidency  of  the  House  of 
Bishops  changed,  79  ;  Action  resi)ecting  the  Comprehen- 
sion of  the  Methodists,  79-81  ;  the  first  Missionary  Docu- 
ment of  the  Church,  81,  82  ;  Changes  in  the  "Ordinal," 
82  ;  Postponement  of  the  consideration  of  the  Articles  of 
Religion,  82,  83  ;  Information  of  the  Accession  of  the  Church 
in  North-Cnroliua  received,  83  ;  Number  of  Clergy,  83. 


CONTENTS.  V 

The  Convention  op  1795 84-88 

Organization,  84  ;  Refusal  of  Testimonials  of  the  Bishop- 
elect  of  Vermont,  84,  85  ;  Action  respecting  "  the  Strictures 
on  the  Love  of  Power  in  the  Prelacy,"  85-88  ;  Permission 
to  place  a  "Protest"  on  record,  denied,  87;  Failure  of 
Bishop-elect  of  North-Carolina  to  attend,  87,  88  ;  Further 
Measures  adopted,  88. 

The  Special,  Convention  of  1799 89-95 

Circumstances  attending  the  Call  of  this  Convention,  89  ; 
The  Testimonials  of  the  Bishop-elect  of  New-Jersey  referred 
back  to  the  Diocesan  Convention,  89,  90  ;  Measures  adopted, 
90  ;  Articles  of  Religion  published  by  order  of  the  House 
of  Deputies,  90-95. 

The  Convention  op  1801 96-103 

Organization,  96  ;  Direct  Refusal  to  sign  the  Testimonials 
of  the  Bishop-elect  of  New-Jersey,  96  ;  Resignation  of  the 
Bishop  (Provoost)  of  New-York,  and  Action  relative  to  the 
Consecration  of  a  Coadjutor,  (B.  Moore),  96-98  ;  Action  re- 
specting the  "  Articles,"  98,  99  ;  Adoption  of  the  "  XXXIX 
Articles"  with  the  necessary  Changes,  99-101  ;  Bishop 
White's  Opinion  respecting  the  Articles,  101,  102  ;  Defeat 
of  Proposal  requiring  that  Lay  Deputies  should  be  Com- 
municants, 102,  103. 

The  Convention  op  1804 .104-107 

Change  of  the  Time  of  Meeting,  104  ;  Enactment  of 
additional  Canons,  105,  106  ;  Adoption  of  Office  of  In- 
duction, 105;  "Course  of  Ecclesiastical  Studies"  set  forth, 
106;  Action  respecting  the  notorious  "  Ammi  Rogers," 
106,  107  ;  Provision  for  the  closing  Exercises  of  Con- 
vention, 107. 

The  Convention  op  1808 108-112 

A  "  full  Negative"  given  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  108  ; 
Appeal  from  Ammi  Rogers,  and  Action  thereon,  108-110  ; 
Opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops  respecting  the  Obligation 
of  English  Table  of  Degrees  wathin  which  Marriage  can 
not  be  celebrated,  llO  ;  Proposed  Alteration  of  Art.  8  of  the 
Constitution,  110,  111  ;  A  "  Pastoral  Letter"  set  forth,  111 ; 


Vi  CONTENTS. 

Associated  Rectorships  disapproved,  111  ;  Hymns  added, 
111  ;  Title  of  Office  of  Induction  changed,  111  ;  Concur- 
rent Resolutions  respecting  the  Burial  of  Duellists  and  the 
Marriage  of  Divorced  Persona,  111,  112  ;  Comments  of 
Bishop  White,  113. 

The  Convention  of  1811 113-115 

Ratification  of  Constitutional  Provision  (Art.  8)  respect- 
ing Changes  in  Prayer-Book  and  Offices,  113  ;  Consecration 
of  Bishops-elect  delayed,  113  ;  Failure  of  Measures  for  the 
Choice  and  Support  of  a  Western  Missionary  Bishop,  113, 
114  ;  Modification  of  Rule  respecting  Burial  of  Duellists, 
114;  The  "  State  of  the  Church,"  114;  Circumstances  at- 
tending the  Consecration  of  Bishops  Hobart  and  Griswold, 
114,  115. 

The  Convention  of  1814 116-120 

Evidences  of  new  Life,  116 ;  Decision  with  respect  to 
the  Effect  of  the  Removal  of  a  Deputy  after  Election, 
116  ;  The  Holy  Communion  made  a  Part  of  the  Opening 
Services  of  Conventions,  116  ;  The  Republication  of  the 
Journals  ordered,  116, 117  ;  The  Condition  of  the  Church  at 
the  South,  117  ;  Opinion  of  the  Bishops  respecting  clerical 
Dress,  117  ;  Standing  recommended  during  the  singing  of 
Psalms  or  Hymns,  117,  118  ;  Refusal  of  Bishops  to  sanc- 
tion a  devotional  Work,  118  ;  Identity  with  the  Cliurch  of 
England  declared,  118,  110  ;  Opinion  of  the  Bishops  re- 
specting the  Wanner  of  receiving  into  the  Church  "Per- 
sons not  baptized  within  its  Pale,"  119  ;  A  Pastoral  Letter 
set  forth,  120. 

The  Convention  op  1817 121-123 

Organization  of  a  Theological  Seminary  determined 
upon,  121  ;  Expression  of  Disapprobation  of  worldly  and 
licentious  Amusements,  121,  122  ;  Designation  of  a  Stand- 
ard Bible  requested,  122  ;  French  Prayer- Book  set  forth, 

122  ;  Catechetical  Instruction  and  Lectures  enjomed,  122, 

123  ;  The  State  of  the  Church  encouraging,  123. 

The  Convention  of  1820 124-127 

Admission  of  Maine  into  Union,  124  ;  Change  of  Loca- 
tion of  General  Seminary  from  New  York  to  New-IIaven 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

determined  upon,  124 ;  Opinion  of  tlie  Bishops  respecting 
private  Baptisms  and  Qualifications  of  Sponsors  solicited, 
124  ;  Standard  Prayer-Book  established,124,125  ;  "Offices" 
declared  "  of  equal  Authority  with  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,"  125  ;  Formation  of  a  Missionary  Society  deter- 
mined upon,  125  ;  Discussion  respecting  the  opening  Ser- 
mon, 126  ;  Bishop  White's  view  respecting  Baptismal  Re- 
generation, 126  ;  View  of  the  Bishops  respecting  the  offi- 
ciating in  our  Churches  of  Persons  not  regularly  ordained, 
126,  127  ;  The  Church  extending,  127. 

The  Special  Convention  of  1821 128-133 

Occasion  of  this  Session,  128  ;  Transfer  of  the  General 
Seminary  to  New-York,  and  its  Organization,  128,  129  ; 
The  Constitution  of  the  Missionary  Society  perfected,  129  ; 
Opinion  of  the  Bishops  concerning  the  last  Rubric  in  the 
Communion  Service,  129-132 ;  Recommendation  of  the 
Missionary  Society,  132, 133. 

The  Convention  of  1823 134-136 

Reception  of  Georgia  into  Union,  134 ;  Canons  enacted, 
134  ;  The  General  Seminary  commended  to  the  Support 
of  the  whole  Church,  135  ;  The  Supply  of  Clergy  insuffi- 
cient, 135  ;  Action  respecting  Affiliation  with  Societies  of 
a  political  Character,  135  ;  Original  Editions  of  the  Jour- 
nals presented  by  Bishop  White,  136. 

The  Convention  of  1826 137-141 

Bishop  Hobart's  Resolutions  respecting  abbreviated 
Services,  137-139  ;  Action  thereon,  139,  140  ;  Resolution 
respecting  the  Authority  of  the  Psalms  and  Hymns,  140  ; 
Proposal  to  put  the  Articles  on  the  same  Footing  with  the 
Prayer-Book  in  respect  to  Alterations,  141  ;  Canon  requir- 
ing three  Years'  Candidateship  previous  to  Ordination, 
141. 

The  Convention  of  1829 142-144 

Notice  of  Members  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  142  ;  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee  admitted  into  Union,  142  ;  Applica- 
tion for  the  Consecration  of  Rev.  William  Meade  as  "As- 
sistant or  Suffragan,"  142 ;  The  constitutional  Change  re- 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

specting  Alterations  of  the  Articles  adopted,  142,  143  ; 
Bishop  Hobart's  Resolutions  withdrawn,  143  ;  Notices  of 
the  State  of  the  Church,  143  ;  Provision  for  Expenses, 
144  ;  Canons  enacted,  144. 

The  Convention  of  1832 145-152 

The  Resignation  of  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  (P.  Chase),  145  ; 
Action  of  the  two  Houses  thereon,  145-147  ;  the  "  Pre- 
siding Bishop,"  147  ;  Opinion  of  the  Bishops  respecting 
Postures  in  the  Communion  Office,  147-149  ;  a  "  Declara- 
tion" concerning  an  Error  in  one  of  the  Prayer-Book 
Offices,  149  ;  Changes  in  the  Rubrics  proposed,  150  ;  Tlie 
Revision  of  the  Canons,  150  ;  "  Ratification"  of  the  Selec- 
tions from  the  Psalms  in  Metre,  150,  151  ;  Admission  of 
Alabama  and  Michigan  into  Union,  151  ;  Defeat  of  Pro- 
posal to  make  the  Representation  in  the  House  of  Depu- 
ties depend  upon  the  number  of  Clergy  in  the  various 
Dioceses,  151,  152  ;  The  "  South- Western  Diocese,"  152. 

The  Convention  op  1835 153-155 

Illinois  admitted  into  Union,  153  ;  Constitution  of  Board 
of  Missions  adopted,  153  ;  Missionary  Bishops  elected, 
153,  154  ;  Conservator  of  Documents  appointed,  154  ; 
Recommendations  of  Bishops  advising  discontinuance 
of  Lord's  Prayer  and  Collect  before  Sermon,  and  advi- 
sing the  saying  of  the  Confession  with  the  Minister, 
and  regulating  the  Mode  of  printing  of  the  "Amen"  in 
certain  cases,  154  ;  Division  of  Dioceses  provided  for,  154  ; 
The  word  right  in  place  of  north  adopted  in  the  Rubric 
before  the  Commission  Office,  155  ;  Grateful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  presence  of  Bishop  White,  155. 

The  Convention  op  1838 156-158 

The  Decease  of  the  Presiding  Bishop,  156  ;  Admission 
of  Indiana,  Florida,  and  Louisiana  into  Union,  156  ;  The 
Division  of  the  Diocese  of  New-York  ratified,  156  ;  Pro- 
posed Changes  in  the  Constitution,  157  ;  Correspondence 
with  For(;ign  Prelates,  157  ;  Rules  to  be  observed  in 
printing  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  157,  158  ;  Historio- 
graphers appointed,  158  ;  Canons  adopted,  158. 


CONTENTS.  ix 

The  Convention  of  1841.  * 159-163 

Missouri  admitted  into  Union,  159  ;  Election  of  Mis- 
sionary Bishops,  159  ;  The  Provision  of  more  ample  Free 
Sittings  recommended,  159,  160  ;  Contested  seats,  160  ; 
Majority  and  Minority  Reports  respecting  the  requirement 
of  Six  Months'  Candidateship  of  Ministers  of  the  Denomi- 
nations applying  for  Orders,  160-162  ;  Election  of  a  Bishop 
for  Louisiana,  162  ;  Recommendation  respecting  Missions 
to  the  Jews,  162  ;  Christian  Education  in  Church 
Institutions  commended,  162  ;  Action  respecting  Mar- 
riages prohibited  by  the  Law  of  God,  163  ;  Correspond- 
ence with  the  Archbishoj)  of  Canterbury  and  other  Bish- 
ops, 163. 

Tii^  Convention  of  1844 164-178 

Comments  of  Bishop  Burgess  respecting  this  Session, 
164,  165  ;  Article  10  added  to  the  Constitution,  166  ;  Ac- 
tion of  the  House  of  Deputies  respecting  the  Oxford 
Movement,  166-171  ;  Reference  of  the  Testimonials  of  the 
Bishop -elect  of  Mississippi  to  the  Diocesan  Convention, 
171  ;  Opinion  of  the  Bishops  respecting  the  six  months' 
probation  required  of  Ministers  applying  for  Holy  Orders, 
171,  172  ;  Recommendation  concerning  the  Paper  on  which 
portions  of  the  Prayer  Book  should  be  printed,  172  ;  The 
Meeting  of  the  Convention  in  places  other  than  Churches 
advised,  172,  173  ;  Precedent  as  to  the  excusing  Members 
from  voting,  and  granting  permission  to  enter  their  rea- 
sons on  the  Journal,  173  ;  Choice  of  Missionary  Bishop  of 
Cape  Palnias,  173,  174  ;  Form  of  Foreign  Missionary  Bish- 
op's testimonial,  174  ;  Proposal  for  Reduction  of  Number 
of  Deputies  to  General  Convention,  174  ;  Continuance  of 
the  Session  of  the  House  of  Bishops  after  the  Adjourn 
meut  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  174,  175  ;  the  Resigna- 
tion and  Suspension  of  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania, 
175-177  ;  Visitation  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 
177,  178. 

The  Convention  of  1847 179-181 

Wisconsin  admitted  into  Union,  179  ;  Suspension  of  the 
Bishop  of  New- York,  179  ;  Canonical   Enactments,    179. 


X  CONTENTS. 

180  ;  Canon  of  Suffragan  Bisliops  referred,  180  ;  Mode  of 
Appointment  of  Supplemental  Deputies,  180  ;  Refusal  to 
sign  the  Testimonials  of  the  Assistant  Bishop-elect  of 
Illinois,  180,  181. 

The  Convention  of  1850 182-184 

Canonical  enactments,  182  ;  Texas  admitted  into  Union, 
182  ;  Canon  of  Suffragan  Bishops  postponed,  183  ;  Resig- 
nation of  the  Missionary  Bishop  to  Turkey  accepted,  183  ; 
The  Missionary  work  recommended  to  the  support  of  the 
Church,  183  ;  Election  of  Dr.  Payne  as  Missionary  Bishop 
to  Africa,  183  ;  Action  respecting  Lay  Helpers,  183  ;  Reso- 
lution  concerning  the  Provincial  System,  183,  184 ;  Rights 
of  Bishops  on  Visitations,  184. 

The  Convention  of  1853 185-106 

The  Deposition  of  the  Bishop  of  North-Carolina,  185- 
187  ;  Canonical  Enactments,  187,  188  ;  Iowa  admitted  into 
Union,  188  ;  Missionary  Bishops  appointed  for  California 
and  Oregon,  188  ;  The  "  Memorial  "  in  favor  of  Liturgical 
Relaxation  and  Church  Comprehension,  188-191  ;  Report 
concerning  the  Interposition  of  the  Civil  Courts  in  the 
Administration  of  Discipline,  192,  193  ;  The  Question  of 
the  Provincial  System  referred,  194  ;  Passage  of  a  Canon 
under  the  Provision  of  Art.  3  of  the  Constitution,  194, 
195  ;  Proposed  Amendments  to  the  Constitution,  19G. 

The  Convention  of  185G 197-201 

California  admitted  into  Union,  197  ;  Action  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  on  the  "  Memorial,"  197,  198  ;  the 
"  Tune  Book,"  198,  199  ;  Canons  enacted,  199,  200  ;  Re- 
mission of  the  Sentence  of  Suspension  passed  on  the 
Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  200,  201  ;  The  Nomination  of  a 
Missionary  Bishop  of  Nebraska  not  confirmed,  201  ;  Deci- 
sion that  a  Question  lost  by  non-concurrence  of  Orders  is 
not  determined  in  the  Negative,  201  ;  Refusal  to  accept 
the  Resignation  of  the  Bishop  of  Illinois,  201. 

The  Convention  of  1859 202-208 

Minnesota  and  Kansas  admitted  into  Union,  202  ;  The 
Episcopate  made  coextensive  with  the  limits  of  the  United 


CONTENTS.  XI 

States,  202  ;  Appointment  of  a  Lay  Committee,  202,  203  ; 
Canons  adopted,  203  ;  Importance  of  Christian  Education 
recognized,  204  ;  Action  of  the  House  of  Deputies  con- 
cerning the  "  Memorial,"  204,  205  ;  Systematic  Offerings 
commended,  206  ;  Need  of  more  Laborers  expressed,  206  ; 
Action  referring  to  Church  Music,  206-208. 

The  Convention  op  1862 209-217 

Action  respecting  the  State  of  the  Country,  209-211  ; 
Order  of  Public  Worship  on  the  Day  of  Fasting,  Humilia- 
tion, and  Prayer,  211-214  ;  Committees  appointed,  214,  215  . 
Standard  Bible  recommended,  215  ;  Change  of  Boundaries 
of  Dioceses,  215-217  ;  The  Pastoral,  217. 

The  Convention  op  1865 218-220 

Presence  of  the  Metropolitan  of  Canada  and  other  Digni- 
taries, 218  ;  Division  of  Pennsylvania,  219  ;  The  Reunion 
of  the  Church,  219  ;  The  Reception  of  the  Bishop  of 
Alabama,  219  ;  Federate  Councils  allowed,  219  ;  Additional 
Hymns  licensed,  219,  220  ;  The  List  of  Communicants,  220  ; 
Resolution  respecting  the  Eastern  Churches,  220  ;  Desig- 
nation of  Dioceses,  220,  221  ;  Recommendation  respecting 
Postures  at  Baptism  and  Confirmation,  221 ;  Service  of 
Thanksgiving  for  the  Restoration  of  Peace,  221-224  ; 
Election  of  Bishops,  224  ;  Resolutions  on  Christian  Educa- 
tion, 224,  235  ;  On  Missions,  225,  226  ;  Authority  of  Rubric 
at  the  end  of  the  Metrical  Hymns,  226,  227  ;  Alleged 
Typographical  Errors  in  the  Table  of  Proper  Psalms  for 
Certain  Days,  227-229. 

The  Convention  of  1868 230-243 

Nebraska  admitted  into  Union,  230 ;  Maryland,  New- 
York,  and  Western  New- York  divided,  230  ;  Membership 
of  the  Board  of  Missions  increased,  230  ;  Grammatical  Inac- 
curacy in  the  "  Invocation,"  231,  232  ;  Recommendation  of 
the  Bishops  as  to  the  Collect,  Epistle,  and  Gospel  to  be  read 
when  a  Sunday  and  Holy  Day  come  together,  232  ;  Reports 
on  the  Conduct  of  Public  Worship  (majority),  232-234 ; 
(minority),  234-236  ;  Action  thereon,  236,  237  ;  Memorials 
respecting  the  Use  of  the  Prayer  Book,  238 ;  Resolutions 
on  Christian  Education,  238,  239  ;  Missionary  Resolutions, 


xii  CONTEKTS. 

239  ;  Maintenance  of  tlie  Clergy,  239  ;  Action  respecting 
Hymnody,  239,  240 ;  Establishment  of  an  Indian  Mission- 
ary Jurisdiction,  240;  Resolutions  of  tlie  Bishops  on  the 
Lambeth  Conference,  340-342  ;  Canon  of  Divorce,  343. 

The  Convention  of  1871 244-273 

Presence  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lichfield  and  other 
Dignitaries  of  the  English  Church,  244,  245  ;  Report  of  the 
Committee  of  the  House  of  Bishops  on  Ritual,  245-250 ; 
Action  of  the  House  of  Deputies  thereon,  250-263  ;  Speech 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  De  Koven,  of  Wisconsin,  262-264  ,  Declara- 
tion of  the  Bishops  in  Council  on  the  Meaning  of  the  Word 
"  Regenerate,"  264-266  ;  The  Chicago  Fire,  266  ;  Adoption 
of  the  Hymnal,  267,  268  ;  Typographical  Error  in  Art.  2  of 
the  Constitution,  268,  269  ;  Removal  of  Constitutional 
Restrictions  upon  the  Division  of  Dioceses,  269  ;  Arkansas 
admitted  into  Union,  369  ;  Revision  of  the  Canons  on  Theo- 
logical Education,  269  ;  Adoption  of  a  Standard  Prayer 
Book,  270  ;  Establishment  of  the  Boundaries  of  the  Juris- 
diction of  Niobrara,  270 ;  The  Jubilee  of  the  Missionary 
Society,  270 ;  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  of 
the  Church,  371  ;  The  Institution  of  an  Order  of  Evange- 
lists, and  the  Organization  of  the  Services  of  Christian 
Women,  271  ;  The  Increase  of  Missionary  Bishops  recom- 
mended, 271,  373;  Action  of  the  Bishops  concerning  the 
New  Translation  of  the  Bible,  373;  The  Alt-Catholic 
Movement,  373 ;  The  Provincial  System,  272 ;  Canons 
adopted,  273. 

The  Convention  of  1874 274-301 

Increased  Attendance,  274 ;  The  Opening  Services,  and 
Sermon  by  Bishop  Selwyn,  375,  6  ;  Organization  of  the  Two 
Houses,  376,  7  ;  The  Refusal  to  confirm  the  Election  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Seymour  to  the  Episcopate  of  Illinois,  377,  8  ;  Doc- 
trinal Positions  and  Statements  of  the  Bishop-elect,  378-380  ; 
The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Andrews's  Summary  of  the  Result,  281  ; 
The  Canon  on  Ritual,  281,  3  ;  Reversal  of  Previous  Preced- 
ent respecting  the  Constitutional  *'  Three  Days"  allowed 
the  House  of  Bishops  for  determining  with  respect  to  any 
Measure  proposed  by  the  Lower  House  for  Joint  Ac- 
tion, 383, 3  ;  Adoption  of  Amendment  to  Article  4  of  the 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

Constitution,  283  ;  Proposed  Changes  to  be  acted  upon 
finally  in  1877,  283,  4  ;  Relations  with  the  Canadian 
Church,  284  ;  Change  of  Title  of  the  Lower  House,  285  ; 
Republication  of  Journals  of  Early  Conventions,  285, 6  ;  The 
Question  of  the  Filioque,  286;  The  Hymnal,  286,  7  ;  Short- 
ened Services  and  Separation  of  Services,  287, 8  ;  The  Lam- 
beth Conference,  288  ;  German  Version  of  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  289,  90  ;  Proposed  Relaxation  of  Rubrics  in 
Baptismal  Office,  290  ;  Canon  on  Church  Music,  291  ;  Ques- 
tions referred  to  next  Convention,  291,  2 ;  Creation  of 
New  Dioceses,  292  ;  Covenant  with  the  Haitien  Church, 
292-5  ;  Action  respecting  the  Defection  of  the  late  Assistant 
Bishop  of  Kentucky,  295-7 ;  Standing  Orders  respecting 
Election  of  a  Bishop  or  Confirmation  of  a  Bishop-elect, 

297,  8  ;   Minute  respecting  the  decease  of  Bishop  Payne, 

298,  9  ;  Christian  Education,  299  ;  The  Old-Catholic  Move- 
ment, 299-300  ;  Report  on  State  of  the  Church,  300,  1. 

Convention  op  1877 '  • .  •  .302-320 

Meeting  in  Boston,  302  ;  large  representation,  302  ;  pres- 
ence of  Rev.  Crauf  urd  Tait,  303 ;  Admission  of  New  Dio- 
ceses, 303,  304 ;  Defeat  of  Proposed  Amendments  to  the 
Constitution,  304  ;  Changes  in  Constitution  and  Canons, 
304-313  ;  Resolution  on  Christian  Education,  313,  314 ;  Ac- 
tion respecting  Missionary  Bishopric  of  New  Mexico  and 
Arizona,  314  ;  Report  on  the  Force  of  Joint  Resolutions, 
314-317 ;  Matters  alluded  to  in  Report  of  the  Committee  on 
the  State  of  the  Church,  318  ;  Closing  Words  of  Report, 
318,  319  ;  Close  of  Pastoral  Letter,  319,  320. 

Convention  of  1880 321-336 

Attendance  of  Bishop  of  Edinburgh  and  Bishop  Herzog, 
321  ;  Place  of  Meeting,  321  ;  Prominence  given  to  Mission- 
ary Work  and  Organization,  322  ;  Increase  of  Missionary 
Episcopate,  322  ;  Advantages  of  the  two  Houses  sitting  to- 
gether, 323 ;  The  Observance  of  the  Approaching  Centen- 
nial of  the  Organization  of  the  Church,  324  ;  Report  on 
the  Functions  of  Rectors,  and  Wardens  and  Vestrymen, 
325  ;  Changes  in  the  Canons,  327  ;  Provision  for  Shorten- 
ed Services,  327 ;  Powers  of  Federate  Council  in  Hlinois, 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

328  ;  Committee  on  Liturgical  Enrichment,  329  ;  Action 
respecting  Polygamy  and  the  Protection  of  the  Indians, 
330;  Addition  of  the  "  Evangelical  Hymns"  to  the  Hym- 
nal, 330  ;  Changes  in  Boundaries  of  Western  Sees,  331  ; 
the  New  Lectionary,  331  ;  Minute  respecting  Resignation 
of  Bishop  of  Michigan,  331 ;  Covenant  with  the  Church  in 
Mexico,  331  ;  other  Matters  under  Discussion,  336 ;  the 
Pastoral,  336. 

Convention  of  1883 337-340 

Appendix  T 341-355 

Summaries  of  Statistics  of  Church  Progress,  1829-1880 
inclusive,  341-355. 

Appendix  II 356-363 

Rules  of  Order  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  356-359  ;  Rules 
of  Order  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  360-363. 

Appendix  III 364-365 

Declaration  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  1880,  respecting  a 
Declaration  of  the  Lambeth  Conference  of  1878. .  .364-365 


mTEODUOTIOK 


At  the  preliminary  meeting  in  1784  for  tlie 
organization  of  tlie  American  Church,  severed 
from  the  mother  Chm'ch  of  England,  by  the  change 
in  the  political  condition  of  the  state,  it  was  de- 
termined as  one  of  the  "  fundamental  articles"  of 
the  proposed  union  "that  there  shall  be  a  General 
Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America."  In  1789,  when  the  present 
Constitution  of  the  American  Church  was  adopted, 
the  first  Article  of  this  instrument  provided  for 
the  triennial  meeting  of  the  Church  in  General 
Convention,  and,  on  the  appearance  of  a  representa- 
tion of  "this  Church,  in  a  majority  of  dioceses 
which  shall  have  adopted  this  Constitution,"  for  its 
proceeding  to  business.  At  all  meetings  of  the 
Church  in  General  Convention  "  the  Church  in  each 
Diocese"  is  entitled  to  a  representation  of  both  the 
clergy  and  the  laity,  not  exceeding  four  of  each 
order.  The  Bishops  of  the  Church  form  a  sepa- 
rate House,  and  the  concurrence  of  both  Houses  is 
necessary  to  give  validity  to  any  legislation.     To 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

the  Church  in  General  Convention  belongs  the 
right  to  propose,  and,  at  the  subsequent  meeting, 
to  ratify,  changes  in  the  Constitution  ;  in  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  or  other  Offices  of  the  Church ; 
and  in  the  Articles  of  Eeligion.  The  Church  may 
enact  canons,  which  are  of  obligation  on  the  whole 
body  of  the  faithful,  at  any  meeting  in  General 
Convention.  It  provides  in  the  Constitution  of  its 
representative  body  for  the  trying  of  Bishops  by  a 
Court  composed  of  Bishops  only ;  it  prescribes  a 
form  of  declaration  to  be  subscribed  prior  to  -ordi- 
nation ;  for  the  provision  of  Bishops  for  foreign 
countries  ;  and  for  the  erection  of  dioceses.  Other 
matters  of  temporary  or  lasting  interest  come 
within  its  cognizance  at  these  triennial  meetings ; 
and  it  is  the  purpose  of  this  volume  to  trace, 
briefly  and  yet  with  sufficient  fulness,  the  various 
measures  which  have  from  time  to  time  occupied 
the  attention  of  this  representative  body  of  the 
American  Church.  The  increasing  difficulty  of 
procuring  sets  of  the  Journals  of  General  Conven- 
tions renders  the  provision  of  some  such  manual 
desirable.  It  is  to  supply  this  acknowledged  want 
that  the  present  volume  has  been  prepared. 


THE  PEELIMINAET  MEETINGS,  1784. 

A  SINGLE  sheet  of  foolscap,  faded  and  yellow 
with  age,  contains  the  records  of  the  preliminary 
gathering  of  clergy  and  laity,  out  of  which  grew 
the  independent  organization  of  the  American 
Church.  These  minutes,  without  preface  or  sig- 
nature, but  bearing  the  attestation  of  the  venerable 
Eishop  White  that  they  were  in  the  handwriting  of 
the  Eev.  Eenjamin  Moore,  afterwards  Eishop  of 
IS'ew-York,  are  appended  to  a  record  of  a  meeting 
of  the  "  Corporation  for  the  Eelief  of  Widows  and 
Orphans  of  Clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England," 
in  Pennsylvania,  :^^ew-Jersey,  and  ]S^ew-York. 
They  are  a  fitting  introduction  to  the  history  of 
the  Conventions  of  which  they  detail  the  initiatory 
steps.  We  copy  them  from  the  original  ms.  as 
preserved  among  the  Eishop  White  papers  in  the 
archives  of  the  General  Convention.  They  are  as 
follows : 

At  New  Brunswick,  Tuesday,  11  May,  1784,  several  Members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  both  of  tlie  Clergy  &  Laity,  from  the 
States  of  New  York,  New  Jersey  &  Pennsylvania  were  assembled 
together  ;  present,  Tlie  Rev^  D^  White,  Rev<i  D^  Magaw,  Rev^ 
M'  Beach,  Rev*  M>-  Bloomer,  ReV^  M--  Frazer,  Rev<i  M'  Ogden 
Rev^  M^  BlackweU,  Rev^  M^  Boden,  Rev^  M'  Beni-  Moore' 
Rev^  M^  Tho«  Moore,  James  Parker,  John  Stevens,  John  Den- 
nis, Esquires,  Col.  Hoyt,  &  Col.  Furman. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  Rev^  Mess"  Beach,  Bloomer,  &  B 


2  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Moore  be  requested  to  wait  upon  the  Clergy  of  Connecticut, 
who  are  to  be  convened  on  the  Wednesday  in  Trinity  Week 
next  ensuing,  for  the  Purpose  of  soliciting  their  Concurrence 
with  us  in  such  Measures  as  may  be  deemed  conducive  to  the 
Union  &  Prosperity  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  the  States  of 
America. 

Also  agreed  by  the  Gentlemen  present,  that  the  undermen- 
tioned Persons  be  requested  to  correspond  with  each  other,  & 
with  any  other  Persons,  for  the  Purpose  of  forming  a  Conti- 
nental Representation  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  &  for  the 
better  INIanagement  of  other  Concerns  of  the  said  Church. 

Rev'i  Mess"  Bloomer,  Provoost,  &  B.  Moore  for  New  York. 

Rev^  Mess"  Beach,  Ogden,  &  Ayres  for  New  Jersey. 

Rev^  D''  White,  D""  Magaw,  &  M""  Blackwell  for  Pennsylvania. 

Any  one  of  which  Persons  of  each  State  respectively,  to  cor- 
respond with  the  others,  without  consulting  his  Colleagues  of 
the  same  State,  whenever  it  may  be  deemed  expedient.* 

The  "  Corporation  for  tlie  Eelief  of  Widows 
and  Orphans"  had  appointed  "  the  Tuesday  after 
the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  next  ensuing,"  as  the 
time  of  tlieir  meeting,  which  was  to  be  held  in  the 
city  of  New- York,  and  by  common  consent  there 
gathered  at  the  same  time  the  leading  clergy  and 
laity  from  various  portions  of  the  land.  A  sin- 
gle "  Broadside "  sheet  gives  the  journal  of  their 
proceedings.  It  is  of  sufficient  interest  to  be  re- 
printed in  full  as  one  of  the  rarest,  as  well  as  most 
interesting,  documents  of  our  ecclesiastical  history  : 


*  Endorsed  by  Bishop  White  as  follows  :  "  The  Original  of 
y«  Minutes  of  y*-'  Meeting  in  N.  Brunswick  in  May  1784 :  in 
y«  Hand  Writing  of  y*^  rev*^  Benjamin  (since  Bp.)  Moore  of  N. 
York."  Tlie  correspondence  between  the  Rev,  Abraham 
Beach,  at  whose  suggestion  this  meeting  was  held,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  White,  is  printed  in  full  in  Perry's  Reprint  of  Jour- 
nals of  General  Conventions,  1785-1835,  III.,  pp.  8-13. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  6 

At  a  Conuntion  of  Clergymen  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  |  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  held 
in  New-Tork,  October  Uh  \  andWi,  1784  :  Present  as  follows;  \ 

Revd.  Samuel  Parker,  A.M.,  Massachusetts  and  Rhode- 
Island,  I  Revd.  John  R.  Marshal,  A.M.,  Connecticut.  | 

NEW- YORK. 


f  Esquires. 


Revd.  Samuel  Provoost,  A.M.   Revd.  Thomas  Moore, 
Revd.  Abraham  Beach,  A.M.     Hon.  James  Duane, 
Revd.  Benjamin  Moore,  A.M.  Marinus  Willet 
Revd.  Joshua  Bloomer,  A.M.   John  Alsop, 
Revd.  Leonard  Cutting,  A.M. 

new-jersey. 

Revd.  Uzal  Ogden,  John  Chetwood,  Esquire, 

John  de  Hart,  Esquire,  Mr.  Samuel  Spragg. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

Revd.  William  White,  D.D.    Richard  Willing,  ) 
Revd.  Samuel  Magaw.  D.D.      Samuel  Powell,    >•  Esquires. 
Rev.  Joseph  Hutchins,  A.M.     Richard  Peters,   ) 
Matthew  Clarkson,  Esquire. 

DELAWARE  STATE. 

Revd.  Sydenham  Thorn,  Revd.  Charles  Wharton, 

Mr.  Robert  Clay.  | 

MARYLAND. 

Revd.  William  Smith,  D.D. 

N.B.  The  Revd.  Mr.  Griffith,  from  the  State  of  Virginia, 
was  present  by  Permission.  The  Clergy  of  that  State  being 
restricted  |  by  Laws  yet  in  force  there,  were  not  at  liberty  to 
send  Delegates,  or  consent  to  any  Alterations  in  the  Order, 
Government,  Doctrine,  or  j  Worship  of  the  Church.  | 


4  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

THE  Body  now  assembled,  recommend  to  the  Clergy  and 
Congregations  |  of  tlieir  Communion  in  the  States  repre- 
sented as  above,  and  propose  to  |  those  of  the  other  States  not 
represented,  That  as  soon  as  they  shall  |  have  organized  or 
associated  themselves  in  the  States  to  which  they  respectively  ( 
belong,  agreeably  to  such  Rules  as  they  shall  think  proper, 
they  unite  in  a  general  |  ecclesiastical  Constitution,  on  the  fol- 
lowing fundamental  Principles.  | 

I.  That  there  shall  be  a  general  Convention  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  |  United  States  of  America.  | 

II.  That  the  Episcopal  Church  in  each  State,  send  Deputies 
to  the  Convention,  |  consisting  of  Clergy  and  Laity.  | 

III.  That  associated  Congregations  in  two  or  more  States, 
may  send  Deputies  |  jointly.  | 

IV.  That  the  said  Church  shall  maintain  the  Doctrines  of  the 
Gospel  as  now  |  held  by  the  Church  of  England  ;  and  shall 
adhere  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  |  said  Church  as  far  as  shall  be 
consistent  with  the  American  Revolution,  |  and  the  Constitu- 
tions of  the  respective  States.  | 

V.  That  in  every  State  where  there  shall  be  a  Bishop  duly 
consecrated  and  settled,  |  he  shall  be  considered  as  a  Member 
of  the  Convention,  ex  Officio.  \ 

VI.  That  the  Clergy  and  Laity  assembled  in  Convention, 
shall  deliberate  in  one  |  Body,  but  shall  vote  seperately  ;  and 
the  Concurrence  of  both  shall  be  |  necessary  to  give  Validity 
to  every  Measure.  | 

VII.  That  the  first  Meeting  of  the  Convention  shall  be 
at  Pldladd'plda  the  |  Tuesday  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael 
next ;  to  which  it  is  hoped  and  |  earnestly  desired,  That  the 
Episcopal  Churches  in  the  respective  States,  |  will  send  tlieir 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  duly  instructed  and  authorized  | 
to  proceed  on  the  necessary  Business  herein  proposed  for  their 
Deliberation.  | 

iSigned  by  Order  of  the  Convention,  \ 

W^iLLiAM  Smith,  D.D.,  President*  I 


*  Reprinted  verhatim  et  literatim  from  Bishop  White's  copy 
of  "  the  short  printed  account  of  the  proceedings  of  this  meet- 
ing," which  tlie  Bishop  tells  us  in  his  "Memoirs  of  the 
Church"  (second  edition,  p.  80),  "  was  in  very  few  hands  at 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  5 

Among  the  archives  of  the  General  Convention 
there  is  a  paper  endorsed  by  Bishop  White  "  as  in 
y^  Hand  writing  of  Dr.  Wilham  Smith,  who  pre- 
sided," containing  a  few  additional  particulars  with 
reference  to  this  preliminary  meeting.  From  this 
paper  we  learn  that  letters  were  read  from  the 
clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  the  pur- 
port of  which  may  be  gathered  from  references 
to  them  in  Bishop  White's  "  Memoirs  of  the 
Church,"  and  in  the  case  of  the  communications 
from  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island, 
from  the  original  mss.,  which  are  still  preserved 
among  the  archives  of  the  General  Convention.* 
The  Connecticut  clergy,  with  the  co-operation  of 
some  of  their  brethren  in  ]^ew-York,  had  already 
taken  measures  for  organization  and  for  securing 
the  Episcopal  office.  Immediately  on  the  prospect 
of  peace,  ten  of  the  clergy  remaining  in  Connecticut 
had  convened  at  Woodbury  and  made  choice  of  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  D.D.,  as  their  Bishop,  and 
sent  him  abroad  for  consecration,  with  instructions 
to  seek  it  first  from  the  Bishops  of  the  Mother 
Church  of  England,  and,  in  the  event  of  failure,  to 
apply  to  the  Bishops  of  the  Church  in  Scotland. 
Pending  the  success  of  this  application,  the  Con- 
necticut clergy  were  unwilling  to  proceed  further 

the  time,  and  is  probably  at  this  time  generally  destroyed  and 
lost,"  A  limited  edition  (twenty-five  only  in  number)  of  a,  fac- 
simile of  this  "  Broadside  "  wag  issued  in  Philadelphia  in  1863, 
copies  of  which  can  be  distinguished  with  difBculty  from  the 
two  or  three  "  originals"  which  still  exist. 

*  Vide  Bishop  White's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Church"  (second 
edition),  pp.  80,  81  ;  and  Perry's  *'  Reprint  of  Early  Jour- 
nals," III.,  pp.  63-66. 


6  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

in  tlie  attempt  to  reorganize  the  Church,  while 
their  bretliren  of  Massachusetts  and  Ehode  Island, 
though  appointing  the  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  of 
Boston,  as  their  delegate  to  tlie  meeting  in  New- 
York,  were  unwilling  to  empower  their  representa- 
tive Avith  any  further  authority  than  "  to  deliberate 
and  propose."  The  ^'  Fundamental  Principles," 
adopted  at  this  preliminary  meeting,  were  prepared 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  the  Hev.  Drs.  Smith 
and  White,  the  Pev.  Messrs.  Parker  and  Provoost, 
and  Messrs.  Clarkson,  De  Hart,  Clay,  and  Duane ; 
and  this  same  committee  were  instructed  to  propose 
"  a  proper  substitute  for  the  State  Prayers  in  the 
Liturgy,"  to  be  adopted  for  temporary  use,  but 
neither  the  printed  nor  the  ms.  records  in  our 
hands  furnish  any  evidence  that  this  duty  was 
performed.  It  was,  however,  recommended  that  a 
committee  of  Clerical  Examiners  should  be  ap- 
pointed in  each  State  to  consider  the  application  of 
persons  desirous  of  ofliciating  as  lay  readers,  and 
the  congregations  were  advised  not  to  suffer  any 
layman  to  officiate  in  their  churches  without  the 
certificate  of  these  Examiners  that  they  were  duly 
qualified.  This  was  a  matter  of  vital  importance 
at  this  time,  when  scores  and  even  hmidreds  of 
churches  were  destitute  of  clerical  ministrations. 
Measures  so  practical  and  evincing  such  prudence 
and  care  prove  that  it  was  under  a  profound  sense 
of  the  danger  threatening  their  beloved  church 
that  the  clergy  and  laity,  forming  this  preliminary 
Convention,  addressed  themselves  to  their  task, 
and  few  as  their  numbers  were,  their  faitli  and  zeal 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  7 

reaped  an  abundant  reward.  Of  the  Clergy 
present,  four,  White,  Pro voost,  Moore,  and  Parker, 
became  Bishops  of  the  Church  their  labors  helped  to 
perpetuate  ;  three.  Smith,  Griffith,  and  Ogden,  were 
Bishops-elect  but  were  never  consecrated  ;  while 
one,  Wharton,  a  recent  convert  from  the  Church  of 
Rome,  w^as  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  this  high 
office.  The  laity,  fewer  still  in  number,  were  men 
of  note  and  reputation,  and  it  was  a  fair  augury 
for  the  future  of  the  Church  that  even  in  this  its 
darkest  hour  such  worthy  and  reputable  rej)resen- 
tative  men  were  found  ready  to  further  her  for- 
tunes or  share  her  fate. 


THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 


THE  CONVENTION  OF  1785. 

By  the  first  of  the  "  Fundamental  Principles" 
agreed  upon  at  the  gathering  in  October,  1784,  it 
was  determined  "  that  there  shall  be  a  General 
Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,"  and  the  seventh  of  these 
"  Principles"  designated  Philadelphia  as  the  place, 
and  "  the  Tuesday  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael " 
as  the  time,  of  the  first  meeting.  At  the  time 
appointed,  September  27th  and  28th,  1785,  sixteen 
of  the  Clergy  and  twenty-six  of  the  Laity,  thirteen 
of  whom  were  from  Pennsylvania  and  six  from 
Delaware,  met  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  tlie 
Eev.  Dr.  White  as  President,  and  the  Eev.  David 
Griffith,  subsequently  Bishop-elect  of  Virginia,  as 
Secretary.  The  "  Fundamental  Principles"  of 
1784  were  considered  and  formally  approved,  with 
the  exception  of  the  fourth,  instead  of  which  a 
resolution  was  adopted — 


"  That  a  Committee  be  appointed,  consisting  of  one  clerical 
and  one  lay  deputy  from  the  Church  in  each  State,  to  consider 
of  and  report  such  alterations  in  the  Liturgy,  as  shall  render  it 
consistent  with  the  American  Revolution  and  the  Constitutions 
of  the  respective  States  :  and  such  further  alterations  in  the 
Liturgy  as  it  may  be  advisable  for  this  Convention  to  recom- 
mend to  the  consideration  of  the  Church  here  represented." 


OF   THE   AMEKICAN   CHURCH.  9 

The  sixtli  ''  Fundamental  Principle"  was  ex- 
plained as  meaning  tliat  tlie  Deputies  were  to  vote 
\)j  States  and  not  individually.  A  committee  was 
also  appointed  to  report  a  draft  of  an  Ecclesiastical 
Constitution  for  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  to  this  com- 
mittee was  subsequently  assigned  the  duty  of 
"preparing  the  necessary  and  proposed  alterations 
in  the  Liturgy."  This  committee,  comprising  the 
moving  spirits  of  the  Convention,  consisted  of  the 
following  members,  namely  :  the  Pev.  Mr.  Pro- 
voost  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Duane,  for  New- York ; 
tlie  Pev.  Mr.  Beach  and  Mr.  Dennis,  for  New- 
Jersey  ;  the  Pev.  Dr.  White  and  Mr.  Peters,  for 
Pennsylvania;  the  Pev^  Dr.  Wharton  and  Mr. 
Sykes,  for  Delaware ;  the  Pev.  Dr.  Smith  and  Dr. 
Cradock,  for  Maryland  ;  the  Pev.  Mr.  Griffith  and 
Mr.  Page,  for  Yirginia ;  and  the  Pev.  Dr.  Purcell 
and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Pead,  for  South-Carolina. 

Thus  on  the  very  day  of  assembling,  September 
2Sth,  the  work  of  organization  and  revision  was 
fully  entered  upon.  Two  days  later,  on  the  30th 
of  September,  to  this  same  committee  w^as  assigned 
the  further  duty  of  preparing  and  reporting  "a 
plan  for  obtaining  the  consecration  of  Bishops, 
together  with  an  address  to  the  Most  Peverend  the 
Archbishops,  and  the  Pight  Peverend  the  Bishops 
of  the  Cliurch  of  England  for  that  purpose."  On 
Saturday,  October  1st,  the  draft  of  alterations  in 
the  Liturgy,  the  draft  of  a  general  Ecclesiastical 
Constitution,  and  "the  further  alterations  to  be 
proposed   in  the  Liturgy/'  wjere  reported   tq  the 


10  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Convention.  On  Monday,  the  3d  of  October,  the 
task  of  considering  these  alterations,  paragraph  by 
paragraph,  was  continued ;  and  on  Tuesday,  while 
clerks  w^ere  transcribing  the  alterations  in  the 
Liturgy,  the  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  w^as  agreed 
upon,  and  the  address  to  the  English  Archbishops 
and  Bishops  received.     On  AVednesday  it  was 

Ordered,  that  the  transcribed  copy  of  the  "  Alterations  in  the 
Liturgy,  to  render  it  consistent  with  the  American  Revolution 
and  the  Constitution  of  the  respective  States,"  be  read  and 
considered  by  paragraphs ; 

which  being  done,  there  followed,  thick  and  fast, 
the  final  acceptance  of  the  work  of  the  Committee, 
as  shown  in  the  action  we  give  below  from  the 
Journal  of  the  Convention : 

Resolved, — That  the  Liturgy  shall  be  used  in  this  Church  as 
accommodated  to  the  Revolution,  agreeably  to  the  alterations 
now  approved  of  and  ratified  by  this  Convention, 

On  motion.  Resolved, — That  the  Fourth  of  July  shall  be 
observed  by  this  Church  for  ever,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  to 
Almighty  God  for  the  inestimable  blessings  of  religious  and 
civil  liberty  vouchsafed  to  the  United  States  of  America. 

On  motion,  Resolved, — That  the  first  Tuesday  in  November  in 
every  year  for  ever,  shall  be  observed  by  this  Church  as  a  day 
of  general  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  the  fruits  of 
the  earth,  and  for  all  the  other  blessings  of  his  merciful  provi- 
dence. 

Ordered,  that  a  Conmiittee  be  appointed  to  prepare  a  Form 
of  Prayer  and  Thanksgiving  for  the  Fourth  of  July  ;  and  a 
Committee  was  accordingly  appointed,  viz.,  the  Rev,  Dr. 
Smith,  the'  Rev,  Dr.  Magaw,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Campbell. 

Ordered,  that  the  alterations  in  the  Liturgy  to  be  proposed  * 


*  The   careful  reader  will  notice  that  only  the  alterations 
rendered  necessary  by  the  political  changes  which  had  taken 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHUKCll.  11 

totliis  Cliurcli,  be  read  and  considered  by  paragraphs;  and  tlie 
Convention  made  some  progress  therein. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  from  the  Committee  to  prepare  a  Form 
of  Prayer  and  Thanksgiving  for  the  Fourth  of  July,  reported 
that  they  had  prepared  the  same. 

Ordered,  that  it  be  now  received  and  read. 

Ordered,  that  the  said  Report  be  read  and  considered  by 
paragraphs  ;  which  being  done, 

Resolved,— liliSii  the  said  form  of  prayer  be  used  in  this 
Church,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  for  ever. 

Then  the  Convention  adjourned  to  6  o'clock  this  evening. 

Wednesday  Evening,  6  o'clock. 

The  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Ordered,  that  the  consideration  of  the  proposed  alterations 
in  the  Liturgy  be  resumed. 

Ordered,  that  the  same  be  again  read  and  considered  by  para- 
graphs ;  which  being  done,  and  tbe  alterations  agreed  to, 

Resolved,— 'Vli'A.i  the  said  alterations  be  proposed  and  recom- 
mended to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  States  from 
which  there  are  deputies  to  this  Convention. 

Ordered,  that  the  alterations  made  in  the  articles  be  again 
read  ;  which  being  done, 

Ordered,  that  the  same  be  read  and  considered  by  para- 
graphs ;  which  being  done,  and  some  time  spent  thereon, 

Resolved,— T\\2ii  the  Articles,  as  now  altered,  be  recommend- 
ed to  this  Church,  to  be  by  them  adopted  in  the  next  General 

Convention. 

******* 

Resolved,— li\\sX  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  publish  the 

Book  of  Common  Prayer  with  the  alterations,  as  well  as  those 

now  ratified,  in  order  to  render  the  Liturgy  consistent  with  the 

American  Revolution  and  the  Constitutions-  of  the  respective 


place  were  adopted  by  this  Convention,  The  further  altera- 
tions in  the  Liturgy  which  were  printed  in  the  ' '  Proposed 
Book"  and  to  which  reference  will  be  made  subsequently, 
were  not  adopted,  but  were  merely  proposed  for  the  acceptance 
of  the  Church  in  the  various  States.  They  were  never  adopted 
by  the  Church. 


12  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

States,  as  the  alterations  and  new  offices  recommended  to  this 
Church  ;  and  that  the  book  be  accompanied  with  a  proper  Pre- 
face or  Address,  setting  forth  the  reason  and  expediency  of 
the  alterations  ;  and  that  the  Committee  have  the  liberty  to 
make  verbal  and  grammatical  corrections,  but  in  such  manner 
as  that  nothing  in  form  or  substance  be  altered. 

The  Committee  appointed  were  the  Rev.  Dr.  White  (Presi- 
dent), the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton. 
******* 

Jiesolved,— That  the  same  Committee  be  authorized  to  pub- 
lish, with  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  such  of  the  reading 
and  singing  Psalms,  and  such  a  Kalendar  of  proper  lessons  for 
the  different  Sundays  and  Holy-days  throughout  the  year,  as 
they  may  think  proper. 

******* 

0)1  motion,  liesohed,— That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  be  requested 
to  prepare  and  preach  a  sermon  suited  to  the  solemn  occasion 
of  the  present  Convention  on  Friday  next  ;  and  that  the 
service  be  then  read  as  proposed  for  future  use. 

Oil  Friday,  tlie  Ttli  of  October,  tlie  Convention 
attended  divine  service  in  Christ  Chnrcli,  Pliiladel- 
pliia,  and  tlie  Liturgy  as  altered  was  read  by  tlie 
Eev.  Dr.  White,  and  a  sermon  suited  to  the  occa- 
sion was  preaclied  by  the  leading  spirit  in  this  work 
of  revision,  the  Eev.  Dr.  William  Smith.  The 
same  day  the  Convention  of  1785  adjourned. 

Our  notice  of  this  important  session  would  not 
be  complete  if  we  failed  to  give  in  full  the  Consti- 
tution which  it  provided  for  the  Church  in  the 
United  States.  In  view  of  subsequent  changes, 
and  as  embodying  the  principles  underlying  our 
organization,  this  document  becomes  of  the  iirst  im- 
portance, and  will  claim  the  attentive  study  of  all 
who  would  acquaint  themselves  with  our  history  or 
the  principles  of  our  ecclesiastical  legislation. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  13 

A  General  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  op  ihe  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 


Whereas,  in  the  course  of  Divine  Providence,  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  is  become 
independent  of  all  foreign  authority,  civil  and  ecclesiastical  : 

And  whereas,  at  a  meeting  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the 
said  Church,  in  sundry  of  the  said  States,  viz.,  in  the  States  of 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  Maryland,  held  in  the 
city  of  New  York  on  the  6th  and  7th  days  of  October,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1784,  it  was  recommended  to  this  Church  in 
tlie  said  States  represented  as  aforesaid,  and  proposed  to  this 
Church  in  the  States  not  represented,  that  they  should  send 
Deputies  to  a  Convention  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  Tuesday  before  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  in  this  present 
year,  in  order  to  unite  in  a  Constitution  of  ecclesiastical  gov- 
ernment, agreeably  to  certain  fundamental  principles,  express- 
ed in  the  said  recommendation  and  proposal. 

And  whereas,  in  consequence  of  the  said  recommendation 
and  proposal,  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  have  been  duly  ap> 
pointed  from  the  said  Church  in  the  States  of  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and 
South  Carolina. 

The  said  Deputies  being  now  assembled,  and  taking  into 
consideration  the  importance  of  maintaining  uniformity  in 
doctrine,  discipline  and  worship  in  the  said  Church,  do  here- 
by determine,  and  declare, 

I.  That  there  shall  be  a  General  Convention  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  which 
shall  be  held  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  on  the  third  Tuesday 
in  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1786,  and  for  ever  after  once 
in  three  years,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  June,  in  such  place  as 
shall  be  determined  by  the  Convention  ;  and  special  meetings 
may  be  held  at  such  other  times  and  in  such  place  as  shall  be 
hereafter  provided  for  ;  and  this  Church,  in  a  majority  of  the 
States  aforesaid,  shall  be  represented  before  they  proceed  to 
business  ;  except  that  the  representation  of  this  Church  from 


li  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

two  States  sliall  be  sufficient  to  adjourn  ;  and  in  all  business  of 
the  Convention  freedom  of  debate  shall  be  allowed. 

II.  There  shall  be  a  representation  of  both  Clergy  and  Laity 
of  the  Church  in  each  State,  which  shall  consist  of  one  or  more 
Deputies,  not  exceeding  four  of  each  Order  ;  and  in  all  ques- 
tions, the  said  Church  in  each  State  shall  have  one  vote  ;  and 
a  majority  of  suffrages  shall    be  conclusive. 

III.  In  the  said  Church  in  every  State  represented  in  this 
Convention,  there  shall  be  a  Convention  consisting  of  the  Clergy 
and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  congregation, 

IV.  "  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  Administration  of 
the  Sacraments  and  other  Kites  and  Ceremonies  of  the  Church, 
according  to  the  use  of  the  Church  of  England,"  shall  be  con- 
tinued to  be  used  by  this  Church,  as  the  same  is  altered  by  this 
Convention,  in  a  certain  instrument  of  writing  passed  by  their 
authority,  intituled,  "  Alterations  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  order 
to  render  the  same  conformable  to  the  American  Revolution 
and  the  Constitutions  of  the  respective  States. " 

V.  In  every  State  where  there  shall  be  a  Bishop  duly  conse- 
crated and  settled,  and  who  shall  have  acceded  to  the  articles 
of  this  General  Ecclesiastical  Constitution,  he  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  a  member  of  the  Convention  ex  officio. 

VI.  The  Bishop  or  Bishops  in  every  State  shall  be  chosen 
agreeably  to  such  rules  as  shall  be  fixed  by  the  respective  Con- 
ventions ;  and  every  Bishop  of  this  Church  shall  confine  the 
exercise  of  his  Episcopal  office  to  his  proper  jurisdiction,  unless 
requested  to  ordain  or  confirm  by  any  church  destitute  of  a 
Bishop. 

VII.  A  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  any  of  the  United 
States  not  now  represented,  may  at  any  time  hereafter  be  ad 
mitted,  on  acceding  to  the  articles  of  this  union. 

VIII.  Every  clergyman,  whether  bishop,  or  presbyter,  or 
deacon,  shall  be  amenable  to  the  authority  of  the  Convention 
in  the  State  to  which  he  belongs,  so  far  as  relates  to  suspension 
or  removal  from  office  ;  and  the  Convention  in  each  State  shall 
institute  rules  for  their  conduct,  and  an  equitable  mode  of  trial. 

IX.  And  whereas  it  is  represented  to  this  Convention  to  be 
the  desire  of  the  Protestant  Episcoj)al  Church  in  these  States, 
that  there  may  be  further  alterations  of  the  Liturgy  than  such 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  15 

as  are  made  necessary  by  the  American  Revolution  ;  therefore 
the  "  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  Administration  of  the  Sacra- 
ments and  other  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  the  Church,  accord- 
ing to  the  use  of  the  Church  of  England,"  as  altered  by  an  in- 
strument of  writing  passed  under  the  authority  of  this  Conven- 
tion, intituled  "  Alterations  ia  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  and  other  Rites  and 
Ceremonies  of  the  Church,  according  to  the  use  of  the  Church 
of  England,  proposed  and  recommended  to  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,"  shall  be  used 
in  this  Church  when  the  same  shall  liave  been  ratified  by  the 
Conventions  which  have  respectively  sent  Deputies  to  this  Ge- 
neral Convention. 

X.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  or  permitted  to  officiate  as  a 
minister  in  this  Church,  until  he  shall  have  subscribed  the  fol- 
lowing declaration  :  "I  do  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  to  contain 
all  things  necessary  to  salvation  ;  and  I  do  solemnly  engage  to 
conform  to  the  doctrines  and  worship  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church,  as  settled  and  determined  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments,  set  forth  by 
the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
these  United  States." 

XI.  This  General  Ecclesiastical  Constitution,  when  ratified 
by  the  Church  in  the  different  States,  shall  be  considered  as 
fundamental,  and  shall  be  unalterable  by  the  Convention  of  the 
Church  in  any  State.  * 

The  interesting  and  valual.)le  "  Memoirs  of  the 
Church,"  bj  Bishop)  White,  fnrnisli  lis  with  infor- 
mation respecting  this  Convention  beyond  the  pub- 
lished record  of  proceedings  from  which  we  have  so 
largely   qnoted.      Subsequent   to   the   j^reliminary 


*  The  student  of  this  period  of  our  history  should  consult 
Bishop  White's  remarks  upon  this  Constitution,  which  will  be 
found  in  the  "  Memoirs  of  the  Church,"  pp.  96-99,  and  also  in 
the  "Reprint  of  the  Journals,"  already  referred  to,  III.,  pp. 
209-213. 


\ 


16  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

meeting  in  Kcw-York  in  October,  ITSJ:,  tlie  applica- 
tion of  the  Clergy  of  Connecticut  to  the  Bishops  of 
Scotland  for  the  consecration  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  Sea- 
bury  to  the  Episcopate  had  been  successful,  and  ere 
the  assembling  of  the  Convention  of  1TS5,  in  Phila- 
delphia, the  Bishop  of  Connecticut  had  been  gladly 
received  by  the  clergy  of  his  diocese,  which  soon 
practically  embraced  the  whole  of  New-England, 
and  had  entered  npon  his  duties  with  apostolic  zeal 
and  fidelity.  The  clergy  of  Connecticut,  who,  as 
we  have  seen,  had  held  aloof  from  co-operation  with 
their  brethren  of  the  Middle  and  Southern  States 
in  their  efforts  for  organization,  in  consequence  of 
their  expectancy  of  securing  a  Bishop  of  their  o^\ti, 
and  who  had  from  the  lirst  deprecated  the  admission 
of  the  laity  into  the  councils  of  the  Church,  at  once 
invited  the  Southern  clergy  to  meet  them  in  Convo- 
cation during  the  summer  of  1785,  at  New-IIaven. 
The  reply  from  the  Kev.  Dr.  White  and  the  Philadel- 
])hia  clergy  was  courteous  and  congratulatory,  though 
the  invitation  was  declined.  Instead  of  the  meeting 
in  Connecticut,  they  nrged  upon  the  Clergy  at  the 
northward  attendance  upon  the  Convention  of  Phi- 
ladelphia. These  mutual  offices  of  courtesy  and 
good-will  opened  the  way  for  an  interesting  corre- 
spondence between  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut  and 
Dr.  William  Smith,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Episcopate  of  Maryland,  and  who  was,  perhaps,  the 
foremost  man  next  to  the  judicious  and  amiable 
AVliite  in  the  work  of  organization  undertaken  at 
the  southward.  In  this  letter,  which  was  transmit- 
ted through  the  llev.  Dr.  Thomas  Bradbury  Chand- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  17 

ler,  of  New-Jersej, — who  had  lately  declined  the 
appointment  to  the  Bishopric  of  Nova  Scotia,  ten- 
dered him  by  the  English  Crown,— Bishop  Seabury 
stated  his  objections  to  sundry  measures  of  the  va- 
rious preliminary  conventions  at  the  southward,  at 
the  same  time  tendering  his  services  in  aid  of  the  ef- 
fort to  secure  the  Episcopate  in  the  English  line, 
and  oif ering  to  ordain  candidates  for  the  Middle  and 
Southern  States,  until  their  application  for  a  Bishop 
of  their  own  had  met  with  success.  The  objections 
urged  by  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut  were  three — that 
the  fundamental  principles  were  too  many  and  too 
precise  ;  that  the  power  of  the  Bishops  was  too 
much  circumscribed  ;  and  that  the  laity  were  admit- 
ted into  synods  where  they  might  "  sit  in  judgment 
on  bishops  and  presbyters,"  even  when  deposition 
might  be  the  event.  The  Bishop  waived  his  objec- 
tions to  giving  the  laity  a  voice  in  the  choice  of  their 
bishop,  provided  "party  and  confusion"  could  be 
avoided,  but  counseled  in  this,  as  in  all  things,  the 
effort  to  bring  "  Church  government  as  near  to 
the  primitive  pattern  as  may  be."  The  letter  clos- 
ed with  earnest  expression  of  a  desire  for  union,  and 
hearty  prayers  that  tlie  Spirit  of  God  might  be  with 
the  approaching  Convention  in  Philadelphia,  of 
which  the  Bishop  well  and  wisely  said, — "  Its  deter- 
minations will  influence  many  of  the  American 
States,  and  posterity  will  be  materially  affected  by 
them."  The  letter  was  frank  and  dignified,  express- 
ed in  the  writer's  usual  courteous  style,  and  was  ac- 
companied with  a  copy  of  the  Bishop's  letter  of 
conse^cration.     The  communication  of  this  letter  to 


18  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

the  Philadelphia  Convention  excited  ''  some  animad- 
versions." Bishop  White  tells  us  that  ''  a  few  of 
the  lay  gentlemen  spoke  more  warmly  than  the  oc- 
casion seemed  to  justify,  considering  that  the  letter 
appeared  to  contain  the  honest  senthnents  of  the 
Avriter,  delivered  in  inoffensive  terms."*  But  the 
sound  sense  of  the  clergy,  who  remembered  that 
this  expression  of  the  Bishop's  views  was  occasion- 
ed by  the  invitation  which  had  been  extended  to 
him  and  to  his  clergy  to  be  present  at  Philadelphia, 
quieted  the  excitement  and  turned  the  whole  agita- 
tion to  use  in  securing  unanimity  in  the  application 
to  England  for  the  Episcopate.  In  fact,  Bishop 
Seabury  indicated  in  his  letter  the  means  for  secur- 
ing this  desired  end.  The  action  of  the  Convention 
in  this  matter  is  summed  up  in  the  address  and  re- 
solves which  we  append.  With  a  few  verbal  altera- 
tions, they  are  the  composition  of  the  excellent 
White,  and  are  well  worthy  of  remembrance  from 
their  dignified  and  courteous  style,  and  the  careful 
avoidance  of  fawning  or  flattery.  The  resolutions 
were  as  follows  : — 

Resolved  :  I.  That  tliis  Convention  address  tlie  Arclibish- 
ops  and  Bishops  of  the  Church  of  England,  requesting  thoni  to 
confer  the  Episcopal  character  on  such  persons  as  shall  be  cho- 
sen and  recommended  to  them  for  that  purpose  from  the  Con- 
ventions of  this  Church  in  the  respective  States. 

II.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  said  Conventions  that  they 
elect  persons  for  this  purpose. 

III.  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  different  Conven- 
tions, at  their  next  respective  sessions,  to  appoint  committees, 

*  Memoirs  of  the  Church,  p.  100. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN  CHURCH.         19 

■with  powers  to  correspond  with  tlie  English  bishops,  for  the 
carrying  of  these  resohitions  into  effect  ;  and  that  until  such 
committees  shall  be  appointed,  they  be  requested  to  direct  any 
communications  which  they  may  be  pleased  to  make  on  this 
subject  to  the  committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev,  Dr.  White, 
(President),  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Provost,  the  Hon. 
James  Duane,  and  Samuel  Powell  and  Richard  Peters,  Es- 
quires. 

IV.  That  it  be  further  recommended  to  the  different  Conven- 
tions, that  they  pay  especial  attention  to  the  making  it  appear 
to  their  Lordships,  that  the  persons  who  shall  be  sent  'to  them 
for  consecration  are  desired  in  the  character  of  Bishops,  as  well 
by  the  Laity  as  by  the  Clergy  of  this  Church  in  the  said  States, 
respectively  ;  and  that  they  will  be  received  by  them  in  that 
character  on  their  return. 

V.  And  in  order  to  assure  their  Lordships  of  the  legality  of 
the  present  proposed  application,  that  the  Deputies  now  assem- 
bled be  desired  to  make  a  respectful  address  to  the  civil  rulers 
of  the  States  in  which  they  respectively  reside,  to  certify  that 
the  said  application  is  not  contrary  to  the  Constitutions  and 
laws  of  the  same. 

VI.  And  whereas  the  Bishops  of  this  Church  will  not  be  en- 
titled to  any  of  such  temporal  honours  as  are  due  to  the  Arch- 
bishops and  Bishops  of  the  Parent  Church,  in  quality  of  Lords 
of  Parliament  ;  and  whereas  the  reputation  and  usefulness 
of  our  Bishops  will  considerably  depend  on  their  taking  no 
higher  titles  or  stile  than  will  be  due  to  their  spiritual  employ- 
ments ;  that  it  be  recommended  to  this  Church,  in  the  States 
here  represented,  to  provide  that  their  respective  Bishops  may 
be  called  "  The  Rt.  Rev.  A.  B.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  C.  D. ,"  and,  as  a  Bishop,  may  have  no  other 
title,  and  may  not  use  any  such  stile  as  is  usually  descriptive 
of  temporal  }x>wer  and  precedency. 

To  THE  Most  Reverend  and  Right  Reverend  the 
Archbishops  op  Canterbury  and  York,  and  the 
Bishops  of  the  Church  of  England. 

We  the  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  sundry  of  the  United  States  of  America,  think  it 


20  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

our  duty  to  address  your  Lordships  on  a  subject  deeply  in- 
teresting, not  only  to  ourselves  and  those  whom  we  represent, 
but,  as  we  conceive,  to  the  common  cause  of  Christianity. 

Our  forefathers,  when  they  left  the  land  of  their  nativity, 
did  not  leave  the  bosom  of  that  Church  over  which  your  Lord- 
ships now  preside  ;  but,  as  well  from  a  veneration  for  Episco- 
pal government,  as  from  an  attachment  to  the  admirable 
services  of  our  Liturgy,  continued  in  willing  connection  with 
their  ecclesiastical  superiors  in  England,  and  were  subjected 
to  many  local  inconveniences,  rather  than  break  the  unity  of 
the  Church  to  which  they  belonged. 

When  it  pleased  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  that 
this  part  of  the  British  empire  should  be  free,  sovereign,  and 
independent,  it  became  the  most  important  concern  of  the 
members  of  our  Communion  to  provide  for  its  continuance. 
And  while,  in  accomplishing  of  this,  they  kept  in  view  that 
Avise  and  liberal  part  of  the  system  of  the  Church  of  England 
which  excludes  as  well  the  claiming  as  the  acknowledging  of 
sucli  spiritual  subjection  as  may  be  inconsistent  with  the  civil 
duties  of  her  children  ;  it  was  nevertheless  their  earnest  desire 
and  resolution  to  retain  the  venerable  form  of  Episcopal 
government  handed  down  to  them,  as  they  conceive,  from  the 
time  of  the  Apostles,  and  endeared  to  them  by  the  remem- 
brance of  the  holy  Bishops  of  the  primitive  Church,  of  the 
blessed  Martyrs  who  reformed  the  doctrine  and  worship  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  of  the  many  great  and  pious  Prelates 
who  have  adorned  that  Church  in  every  succeeding  age.  But 
however  general  the  desire  of  compleating  the  Orders  of  our 
Ministry,  so  diffused  and  unconnected  were  the  members  of 
our  Communion  over  this  extensive  country,  that  much  time 
and  negociation  were  necessary  for  the  forming  a  representative 
body  of  the  greater  number  of  Episcopalians  in  these  States  ; 
and  owing  to  the  same  causes,  it  Avas  not  until  this  Convention 
that  sufficient  powers  could  be  procured  for  the  addressing 
your  Lordships  on  this  subject. 

The  petition  which  we  offer  to  your  Venerable  Body  is, — 
that  from  a  tender  regard  to  the  religious  interests  of  thousands 
in  this  rising  empire,  professing  the  same  religious  principles 
with  the  Church  of  England,  you  will  be  pleased  to  confer  the 
Episcopal  character  on  such  persons  as  shall  be  recommended 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  21 

by  this  Church  in  the  several  States  here  represented— full 
satisfaction  being  given  of  the  sufficiency  of  the  persons  recom- 
mended, and  of  its  being  the  intention  of  the  general  body  of 
the  Episcopalians  in  the  said  States  respectively,  to  receive 
them  in  the  quality  of  Bishops. 

Whether  this  our  request  will  meet  with  insurmountable 
impediments,  from  the  political  regulations  of  the  kingdom  in 
which  your  Lordships  fill  such  distinguished  stations,  it  is  not 
for  us  to  foresee.  We  have  not  been  ascertained  that  any 
such  will  exist ;  and  are  humbly  of  opinion,  that  as  citizens  of 
these  States,  interested  in  their  prosperity,  and  religiously  re- 
garding the  allegiance  which  we  owe  them,  it  is  to  an  ecclesi- 
astical source  only  we  can  apply  in  the  present  exigency. 

It  may  be  of  consequence  to  observe,  that  in  these  States 
there  is  a  separation  between  the  concerns  of  policy  and  those 
of  religion ;  that,  accordingly,  our  civil  rulers  cannot  officially 
join  in  the  present  application  ;  that,  however,  we  are  far  from 
apprehending  the  opposition  or  even  displeasure  of  any  of 
those  honorable  personages  ;  and  finally,  that  in  this  business 
we  are  justified  by  the  Constitutions  of  the  States,  which  are 
the  foundations  and  controul  of  all  our  laws.  On  this  point 
we  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  enclosed  extracts  from  the  Con- 
stitutions of  the  respective  States  of  which  we  are  citizens,  and 
we  flatter  ourselves  that  they  must  be  satisfactory. 

Thus,  we  have  stated  to  your  Lordships  the  nature  and  the 
grounds  of  our  application  ;  which  we  have  thought  it  most 
respectful  and  most  suitable  to  the  magnitude  of  the  object,  to 
address  to  your  Lordships  for  your  deliberation  before  any 
person  is  sent  over  to  carry  them  into  effect.  Whatever  may 
be  the  event,  no  time  will  efface  the  remembrance  of  the  past 
services  of  your  Lordships  and  your  predecessors.  The  Arch- 
bishops of  Canterbury  were  not  prevented,  even  by  the  weighty 
concerns  of  their  high  stations,  from  attending  to  the  interests 
of  this  distant  branch  of  the  Church  under  their  care.  The 
Bishops  of  London  were  our  Diocesans  ;  and  the  uninterrupted 
although  voluntary  submission  of  our  congregations,  will  re- 
main a  perpetual  proof  of  their  mild  and  paternal  government. 
All  the  Bishops  of  England,  with  other  distinguished  charac- 
ters, as  well  ecclesiastical  as  civil,  have  concurred  in  forming 
and  carrying  on  the  benevolent  views  of  the  Society  for  Pro- 


22  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION" 

pagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  :  a  Society  to  whom, 
under  God,  the  prosperity  of  our  Churcli  is  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree to  be  ascribed.  It  is  our  earnest  wish  to  be  permitted  to 
make,  through  your  Lordships,  this  just  acknowledgment  to 
that  venerable  Society  ;  a  tribute  of  gratitude  which  we  the 
rather  take  this  opportunity  of  paying,  as  while  they  thought 
it  necessary  to  withdraw  their  pecuniary  at^sistance  from  our 
Ministers,  they  have  endeared  their  past  favors  by  a  benevolent 
declaration,  that  it  is  far  from  their  thoughts  to  alienate  their 
affection  from  their  brethren  now  under  another  government — 
with  the  pious  wish,  that  their  former  exertions  may  still  con- 
tinue to  bring  forth  the  fruits  they  aimed  at  of  pure  religion 
and  virtue.  Our  hearts  are  penetrated  with  the  most  lively 
gratitude  by  these  generous  sentiments  ;  the  long  succession 
of  former  benefits  passes  in  review  before  us  ;  we  pray  that  our 
Church  may  be  a  lasting  monument  of  the  usefulness  of  so 
worthy  a  body  ;  and  that  her  sons  may  never  cease  to  be  kindly 
aifectioned  to  the  members  of  that  Church,  the  Fathers  of  which 
have  so  tenderly  watched  over  her  infancy. 

For  your  Lordships  in  particular,  we  most  sincerely  wish  and 
pray,  that  you  may  long  continue  the  ornaments  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  at  last  receive  the  reward  of  the  righteous 
from  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls. 

We  are,  with  all  the  respect  which  is  due  to  your  exalted 
and  venerable  characters  and  stations, 
Your  Lordships 

Most  obedient  and 

Most  humble  Servants, 
Signed  by  the  CiiERicAL  and  Lay  Deputies 
OF  THE  Convention. 
In  Convention  : 
Christ  Church,  Philadelphia, 
October  5th,  1785. 

Full  as  has  been  our  presentation  of  the  action 
of  tlie  Convention  of  1785,  we  should  greatly  err 
if  we  dismissed  its  consideration  w^ithout  tracing 
still  farther  than  we  may  learn  from  the  extracts 
from  the  records  which  we  have  given,  the  story 


OF    THE    A]\[EKICAN    CHUKCIT.  23 

of  the  preparation  and  reception  of  tlie  "  Proposed 
Book,"  as  it  has  always  been  styled."  We  turn 
from  the  pages  of  the  Journal,  which  indicate  with 
sufficient  clearness  the  haste  with  which  the  altera- 
tions were  proposed  and  tentatively  adopted,  to  the 
MS.  authorities  in  the  archives  of  the  Church,  and 
to  the  brief  but  pertinent  recollections  of  Bishop 
White,  for  the  fuller  history  of  these  liturgical 
changes.  As  the  result  of  the  action  of  the  Con- 
vention, certain  alterations  rendered  imj^erative 
by  the  issue  of  the  war  for  independence  were 
^'  aj)proved  of  and  ratified. "f  Further  changes, 
comprising  a  thorough  review  of  the  Liturgy  and 
Articles  of  Keligion,  were  "  proposed  and  recom- 
mended ":}:  for  adoption  at  a  subsequent  Conven- 
tion. These  alterations,  ]3repared  by  a  subdivision 
of  the  Committee  on  tlie  changes  in  the  Prayer 
Book,  were  presented  to  the  Convention  without 
reconsideration  by  the  whole  Committee  ;  and  even 
in  Convention  "  there  were  but  few  points  canvassed 
with  any  material  difference  of  opinion. "§  These 
changes  were  mainly  the  work  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
William  Smith,  a  giftod  but  erratic  man,  who  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  the  Convention  for  the  as- 
sistance he  thus  rendered  in  perfecting  the  press- 
ing business  before  them ;  and  to  whom,  with  the 

*  Nothing  can  be  more  incorrect  and  wanting  in  historical 
accuracy  than  to  speak  of  this  vohime  as  the  "  Bishop  White 
Prayer  Book."  If  any  name  were  thus  to  be  used  in  connection 
with  this  compilation,  it  should  be  that  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Smith. 

f  Journal  of  a  Convention,  etc.,  1785,  p.  12. 

:t  Ibid.,  pp.  12,13. 

§  Bishop  White,  Memoirs  of  the  Church,  p.  103. 


24  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

Rev.  Drs.  White  and  Wharton,  the  duty  of  pub- 
lishing the  "  Proposed  Book  "  was  specially  assign- 
ed.    Authority  was   given   to   this  Committee   to 
prepare  '^  a  proper  preface  or  address,  setting  forth 
the  reason  and    expediency  of   the   alterations.'''" 
Permission  was  accorded  to  them  ''  to  make  verbal 
and  grammatical  corrections ;  but  in  such  a  man- 
ner, that  nothing  in   form  or  substance   be  alter- 
ed ;"f  and   the   preparation  and   publication  of   a 
Psalter,  a  Kalendar  of  proper  Lessons  and  Metrical 
Psalms   was   also   made   their  duty.     With   these 
ample  powers  the  Committee  set  about  their  work ; 
Dr.    White,    the   chairman,    at   Philadelphia,    Dr. 
Smith,  at  his  college  and  parish  in  Maryland,  and 
Dr.  Wharton  of  Delaware,  by  an  occasional  com- 
munication and  by  a  visit  now  and  then  to  his  col- 
leagues, all  engaged  and  deeply  interested  in  their 
task.     Few  more  interesting  or  instructive  contri- 
butions to  our  ecclesiastical  history  are  to  be  found 
than  the  familiar  and  often  carelessly  written  com- 
munications, prepared  with  no  idea  of  preservation 
and  much  less  with  a  view  to  publication,   which 
passed    between    the    members    of   the    Commit- 
tee   in    the    prosecution    of    their   work.     It   was 
only  as  the  result  of  an  after-thought  on  the  part  of 
Dr.  Smith  that  these  letters  were  preserved  at  all, 
and  passing  subsequently  into  the  hands  of  Bishop 
White  and  forming  a  portion  of  his  papers  now  on 
tile  among  the  archives  of  the  Church,   they  are 


*  Journal  of  a  Convention,  etc.,  1785,  p.  17. 
t  Ibid.  ^ 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  25 

printed  in  Ml  among  the  illustrative  notes  and  doc- 
uments appended  to  the  Keprint  of  Journals  of  Gen- 
eral Conventions  issued  under  authority  of  the  Con- 
vention itself.*  The  alterations  themselves,  printed 
from  the  original  mss.  still  preserved  among  the 
Archives  of  the  Church,  we  give  below.f  Theii 
importance  as  exhibiting  the  doctrinal  and  liturgi- 
cal views  of  the  leading  men  who  moulded  our  insti- 
tutions and  settled  our  discipline  and  worship  at 
this  epoch  of  our  history  can  not  be  over-estimated. 
Events  now  occurring  make  this  record  one  of 
value  ;  and  no  one  careful  to  acquaint  himself  with 
the  history  of  the  Church  or  the  Convention  will 
be  repelled  by  the  requirement  of  time  and  atten- 
tion which  their  study  demands. 

Alterations  agreed  upon  &  confirmed  in  Convention  for  ren- 
dering the  Liturgy  conformable  to  the  Principles  of  the 
American  Revolution,  and  the  Constitutions  of  the  several 
States. 

1.  That  in  the  suffrages  after  the  Creed,  instead  of  0  Lord, 
save  the  King,  be  said   0  Lord,  Mess  &  preserve  these  United 

Statts. 

2d.  That  the  prayer  for  the  Royal  family,  in  morning  & 

evening  service,  be  omitted. 

3d.  That  in  the  Litany  the  15th,  16th,  17th,  &  18th  petitions 
be  omitted,  and  that  instead  of  the  20th  &  21st  petitions,  be 
substituted  the  following— T/mi  it  may  please  Thee  to  endue 
the  Congress  of  these  United  States,  &  all  others  in  authority 


*  Vide  vol.  iii.,  pp.  109,  110, 125,  198.  . 

+  Thev  are  also  contained  in  Bishop  Whites  Memoirs,  pp. 
363-377'  and  in  Perry's  Introduction  to  Proctor  on  the  Com- 
mon Prayer  (New-York,  1868),  pp.  xiv.— xxvi.  Vide  also 
Perry's  Reprint  of  the  Journals  of  Early  Conventions,  IIL,  pp. 
110-125. 


20  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

legislative  execidive^  &  Judicial  with  grace,  ivisdom  &  under- 
standing, to  execute  Justice  and  to  maititaiii  truth. 

4tli.  That  when  the  Litany  ia  not  said,  the  prayer  for  the 
high  Court  of  Parliament  be  thus  altered,—"  Most  gracious  God, 
we  humbly  beseech  thee,  as  for  these  United  States  in  general,  so 
especially  for  their  Delegates  i)i  Congress,  that  thou  wouldest  he 
pleased  to  direct  &  prosjmr  all  their  consultations  to  the  advance- 
ment of  thy  glory,  the  good  of  thy  Church,  the  safety,  honour  & 
icelfare  of  thy  people,  that  all  things  may  he  so  ordered  &  settled 
hy  their  endeavors  upon  the  best  &  surest  foundations,  that 
2)eace  &  happiness,  truth  &  justice,  religion  &  'piety,  may  he  es- 
tablished among  us  for  all  generations,"  &c.  to  the  end,  k  y" 
"  Prayer  for  the  K'gs  Majesty,"  altered  as  follows  :  viz. — A 
Prayer  for  our  civil  Rulers.  0  Lord,  our  heavenly  Father, 
y^  high  &  mighty  Uuler  of  y"  Universe,  who  dost  from  thy 
Throne,  behold  all  y^  Dioellers  upon  Earth;  most  heartily  we 
beffcech  thee,  with  thy  Favour  to  behold  all  in  Authority,  legisla- 
tive, executive  and  Judicial  in  these  United  States;  &  so  re- 
plenish them  with  y^  Grace  of  thy  holy  Spirit,  that  they  may 
aZicay  incline  to  thy  loill  &  walk  in  thy  way.  Endue  them 
plenteously  with  heavenly  Gifts,  grant  them  in  Health  cfc  Wealth 
long  to  live  &  that  after  this  Life,  they  may  attain  everlasting 
Joy  cf;  Felicity,  through  Jesus  X'  our  Lord.     Amen. 

5tli,  That  the  1st.  Collect  for  the  King  in  the  Communion 
Service  be  omitted,  and  that  the  Second  be  altered  as  follows 
— instead  of  "  the  hearts  of  Kings  are  in  thy  rule  &  governance" 
be  said — "  That  the  hearts  of  all  Rulers  are  in  thy  governance, 
&c.,  and  instead  of  the  words — heart  of  George  thy  servant, 
insert, — so  to  direct  the  Rulers  of  these  states,  that  in  all  their 
thoughts,  (&c."  changing  the  singular  pronouns  to  the  plural. 

7th.  That  in  the  answer  in  the  Catechism  to  the  question — 
What  is  thy  duty  towards  thy  neighbour?  for  to  honour  and 
obey  the  king,  be  substituted — to  honour  &  obey  my  civil  rulers, 
to  submit  myself,  &c. 

8th.  That  instead  of  the  observation  of  the  5th  of  Novem- 
b(!r,  the  30th  of  January,  the  29th  of  May,  &  the  25th  of  Oc- 
tober, y«  following  service  be  used  on  y*-'  4th  of  July,  being 
the  Anniversary  of  Independence. 

9th.  That  in  y«  Forms  of  Prayer  to  be  used  at  Sea,  in  y" 
Prayer  "  0  eternal  God,  dc"  instead  of  these  Words—"  unto 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  27 

our  most  gracious  Sovereign  Lord  K.  George  and  Ms  King- 
doms," be  inserted  y«  Words— "  to  the  U.  States  of  A."  ^nd 
that  instead  of  the  Word  ''Island"  be  inserted  y«  Word 
"  Country ;  &  in  y«  Collect  "  0  Almighty  Ood,  y'  Sovereign 
Commander,"  be  omitted  y«  Words—"  y'  Honour  of  our  Sove- 
reign," &  the  Words  "  r  honour  of  our  Country"  inserted. 

Service  for  the  ^th  of  July. 

With  ye  sentences  before  Morning  &  Evening  Prayer. 
The  Lord  hath  been  mindful  of  us,  and  he  shall  bless  us  ; 
he  shall  bless  them  that  fear  him,  both  small  &  great.     O  that 
men  would  therefore  praise  the  Lord,  for  his  Goodness,  and 
declare  the  wonders  that  he  doeth  for  the  children  of  men. 

Hymn,  instead  of  the  Venite. 

My  Song  shall  be  alway  of  the  loving  kindness  of  the  Lord  : 
with  my  mouth  will  I  ever  be  showing  forth  his  truth  from 
one  generation  to  another.     \^Psal.  89  :  1.] 

The  merciful  and  gracious  Lord  hath  so  done  his  marvellous 
works  :  that  they  ought  to  be  had  in  remembrance.  {PsaL 
111  :  4.] 

Who  can  express  the  noble  acts  of  the  Lord  :  or  show  forth 
all  his  praise  ?     [Psal.  106  :  2.] 

The  works  of  the  Lord  are  great  :  sought  out  of  all  them 
that  have  pleasure  therein.     {Psal.  Ill  :  2,] 

For  he  will  not  always  be  chiding  :  neither  keepeth  he  his 
anger  for  ever.     [Psal.  103  :  9.  J 

He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins  :  nor  rewarded  us 
according  to  our  wickedness.     [Verse  10.] 

For  look  how  high  the  heaven  is  in  comparison  of  the  earth  ; 
so  great  is  his  mercy  toward  them  that  fear  him.     [  Verse  11.] 

Yea,  like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  own  children  :  even  so  is 
the  Lord  merciful  unto  them  that  fear  him.     [  Verse  11.] 

Thou,  O  God,  hast  proved  us  :  thou  also  hast  tried  us,  like 
as  silver  is  tried.     [Psal.  66  :  9.] 

Thou  didst  remember  us  in  our  low  estate,  and  redeem  us 
from  our  enemies  :  for  thy  mercy  endureth  for  ever.  [Psal. 
136  :  23,  24.] 


28  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

Proper  Psalms,  118,  except  v.  10,  11,  12,  13,  22d,  2ad,  to  con- 
clude with  V.  24. 

1.  Lesson — Deut.  8.  2d.  Less  :  Tliess.  5,  verse  12th — 33d, 
both  inclusive. 

Collect  for  the  day. 

Almighty  God,  who  hast  in  all  ages  showed  forth  thy  power 
&  mercy  in  the  wonderful  preservation  of  thy  church,  and  in 
the  protection  of  every  nation  &  people  professing  thy  holy  and 
eternal  truth,  and  putting  their  sure  trust  in  thee  ;  We  yield 
thee  our  unfeigned  thanks  and  praise  for  all  thy  public  mer- 
cies, and  more  especially  for  that  signal  and  wonderful  mani- 
festation of  thy  Providence  which  we  commemorate  this  day  ; 
wherefore  not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  thy  Name 
be  ascribed  all  honour  and  glory,  in  all  churches  of  the  Saints, 
from  generation  to  generation,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

A  Tlianksgwing  for  the  day,  to  be  said  after  the  General 
Thanksgiving. 

O  God,  whose  Name  is  excellent  in  all  the  earth,  and  thy 
Glory  above  the  heavens  ;  who  as  on  this  day  didst  inspire  and 
direct  the  hearts  of  our  Delegates  in  Congress,  to  lay  the  per- 
petual foundations  of  peace,  liberty  &  safety  ;  we  bless  and 
adore  thy  glorious  Majesty,  for  this  thy  loving  kindness  &  Pro- 
vidence. And  we  humbly  pray  that  the  devout  sense  of  this 
signal  mercy  may  renew  and  increase  in  us  a  Spirit  of  love  & 
thankfulness  to  thee  its  only  author,  a  Spirit  of  peaceable  sub- 
mission to  the  laws  &  government  of  our  country,  and  a  spirit  of 
fervent  zeal  for  our  holy  religion,  which  thou  hast  preserved  & 
secured  to  us  and  our  posterity.  May  we  improve  these  ines- 
timable blessings  for  the  advancement  of  religion,  liberty,  and 
science  throughout  this  land,  'till  the  wilderness  and  solitary 
place  be  made  glad  throuj^h  us,  and  the  Desert  rejoice  &  blos- 
Bom  as  the  rose.     This  we  beg,  etc.* 


*  The  Epistle  and  the  Gospel  were  added  by  the  committee, 
agreeably  to  an  authority  which  they  conceived  to  be  vested  in 
them. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHUKCH.  29 

Alterations  in  y®  Book  of  Common  Prayer  &  Administration 
of  y^  Sacraments,  &  otlier  Rites  &  Ceremonies  of  y^  Church, 
according  to  y^  Use  of  y®  Ch^^  of  Engl'^  proposed  &  recommend- 
ed to  y«  Prot*  Epis*  Church  in  y«  U.  States  of  America.* 

Tlie  Order  for  Morning  Service  Daily  throughout  the  year. 

The  following  Sentences  of  Scripture  are  ordered  to  be 
prefixed  to  the  usual  Sentences,  viz. — 

1.  The  Lord  is  in  his  Holy  Temple  ;  let  all  the  Earth  keep 
silence  before  Him.     Hah.  2  :  20.f 

From  the  Rising  of  the  Sun  to  the  Going  down  of  the  Same, 
my  Name  shall  be  great  among  the  Gentiles,  and  in  every 
Place  Incense  shall  be  offered  unto  my  Name,  and  a  pure  Of- 
fering ;  for  my  Name  shall  be  great  among  the  Heathen,  saith 
the  Lord  of  Hosts.     Malachi  [1  :  11.] 

[Let  the  words  of  my  Mouth,  and  the  meditation  of  my  Heart, 
be  alway  acceptable  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord,  my  Strength  and 
my  Redeemer.     Psal.  19  :  14.]  :}: 

2.  That  the  Rubric  preceding  the  Absolution  be  altered 
thus — "A  declaration  to  he  made  hy  the  Minister  alone,  standing, 
concerning  the  forgiveness  of  Sins." % 

3.  That,  in  the  Lord's  prayer,  the  word  who  be  substituted 
in  lieu  of  which,  and  that  those  who  trespass  stand  instead  of 
''them  that  trespass^' 

4.  That  the  Gloria  Patri  be  omitted  after  the  "  0  come  let  us 
sing,"  and  in  every  other  Place,  where,  by  the  present  Rubric, 
it  is  ordered  to  be  inserted,  to  "the  end  of  the"  Reading 
Psalms,  when  shall  be  said  or  sung  Gloria  Patri,  &c. ,  or  Glwy 
"be  to  God  on  high,  and  in  earth  peace,  good-will  toicards  men, 
d'C,  at  y*^  discretion  of  y«  Minister. 

5.  That  in  the  Te  Deum,  instead  of  honourahle  it  be  adora- 
ble, true,  and  only  Son,  and,  instead  of  didst  not  abhor  the  Vir- 
gin's womb — didst  humble  thyself  to  he  horn  of  a  pure  Virgin. 

6.  That  until  a  proper  selection  of  Psalms  be  made,  each 
Minister  be  allowed  to  use  such  as  he  may  chuse. 


*  In  the  handwriting  of  Bishop  White. 

\  The  words,  "  N.B. — A  solemn  pause  here,"  are  stricken 
out. 

X  Not  in  the  MS.,  nor  in  the  "  Proposed  Book." 
§  Transposed  in  the  "  Proposed  Book." 


80  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

7.  That  tlie  same  liberty  be  allowed,  respecting  tlie  lessons. 

8.  Tbat  the  article  in  the  Apostles  Creed,  He  descended  into 
Hell,  be  omitted. 

9.  That  the  Athanasian  and  the  Nicene  Creeds  be  entirely- 
omitted. 

10.  That  after  the  Response,  ''and  with  tJiy  Spirit,"  aW  he 
omitted  to  the  words,  0  Lord  show  thy  mercy  upon  its,  which 
the  Minister  shall  pronounce  still  kneeling. 

11.  That  in  the  ^n&rage,"  make  thy  cJiosen  People  joyful,"  the 
word  chosen  be  omitted,  and  also  the  following  Suffrages,  to 
"0  God  make  clean  our  hearts  wit?dn  us." 

12.  That  the  Rubric  after  these  words,  "  and  take  not  thy 
Holy  Spirit  from  us,"  be  omitted.  Then  the  two  collects  to  be 
said  :  in  y«  collect  for  grace,  y®  words,  "he  ordered,"  to  be  omit- 
ted, &  y^  word  "  he  "  inserted,  instead  of  "to  do  always  that  is." 

13.  In  the  collect  for  the  Clergy  and  People,  read  Almighty 
and  everlasting  God,  send  doiDn  upon  all  BisJiops  and  other  Pas- 
tors, and  the  Congregations  committed,  &c.,  to  the  end. 

14.* 

15.  That  the  Lord's  prayer  after  the  Litany,  and  the  subse- 
quent Rubrick,  be  omitted. 

16.  That  the  short  Litany  be  read  as  follows,  "  Son  of  God, 
we  heseech  thee  to  hear  us.  Son  of  God,  ice  heseech  thee 
to  hear  us.  0  Lamh  of  God,  that  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
World,  Grant  us  thy  peace.  0  Christ,  hear  us.  Lord,  have 
mercy  upon  us  and  deal  7iot  with  us  according  to  our  Sins,  nei- 
ther reward  us  according  to  our  iniquities."  After  which,  omit 
the  words,  "Let  us  pray." 

17.  Tliat  the  Gloria  Patri,  after  0  Lord  arise,  dr.,  be  omit- 
ted ;  as  also  Let  us  pray,  after  we  put  our  trust  in  thee. 

18.  That  in  the  following  prayer,  instead  of  righteously  hare 
deserved,  it  he  justly  have  deserved. 

19.  That  in  the  1st.  warning  for  Communion,  the  word  dam- 
nation, following  these  words  increase  your,  (tc,  be  read  con- 
demnation ;  and  the  two  j)aragraphs  after  these  words,  or  else 


*  Here  is  a  mistake  in  the  Manuscript  :  the  article  being 
found  to  be  a  repetition  of  part  of  the  4th.  Vide  Bp.  White's 
Memoirs  of  the  Church,  p.  867,  where  "  18th  "  is  a  misprint  for 
"4th." 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  31 

come  not  to  that  holy  table,  be  omitted,  &  tlie  following  one  be 
read,"  &  if  there  he  any  of  you,  who  hy  these  means,  cannot  quiet 
their  conscience,  d:c."  The  words,  learned  and  discreet,  epithets 
given  to  the  ministers,  to  be  also  omitted. 

20.  In  the  exhortation  to  the  communion,  let  it  run  thus— 
"For  as  the  benefit  is  great,  &c.,  to  drink  his  blood,  so  is  the 
danger  great,  if  we  receive  the  same  unworthily.  Judge  there- 
fore yourselves,  &c." 

21.  That  in  the  rubrick  preceeding  the  absolution,  instead  of 
pronounce  this  absolution,  it  be,  Then  shall  the  minister  stand 
up,  &  turning  to  the  people,  say. 

22.  That  in  the  baptism  of  infants,  parents  may  be  admitted 
as  Sponsors. 

23.  That  the  minister,  in  speaking  to  the  Sponsors,  after 
these  words,  vouchsafe  to  release  him,  say — release  him  from  Sin, 
&  in  the  second  prayer,  instead  of  remission  of  his  Sins,  read 
remission  of  Sin. 

24.  That  in  y«  questions  add'^  to  the  Sponsors,  &  y«  An- 
swers, instead  of  y*  present  Form,  it  be  as  follows — 

25.  Dost  thou  believe  the  articles  of  the  christian  faith,  as  con- 
tained in  the  Apostles'  creed,  and  icilt  thou  endeavour  to  7iave 
this  child  instructed  accordingly  ?  Answ  :  /  do  believe  them, 
and,  by  God's  help,  will  endeavour  so  to  do. 

Wilt  thou  endeavour  to  have  him  brought  up  in ^  the  fear  of 
God,  and  to  obey  God's  holy  will  &  commandments  f  Answ  :  / 
yyill,  by  God's  assistance. 

26.  That  the  sign  of  ihe  cross  may  be  omitted,  if  particularly 
desired  by  the  Sponsors  or  Parents,  and  the  prayer  to  be  thus 
altered  (by  the  direction  of  a  short  rubric)  We  receive  this  child 
into  the  congregation  of  Christ's  flock,  &  pray  that  hereafter  he 
may  never  be  ashamed,  &c.,   to  the  end. 

27.  That  the  address.  Seeing  now  dearly  beloved,  &c.  be 
omitted. 

28.  That  the  prayer  after  the  Lord's  prayer,  be  thus  chang- 
ed. We  yield  thee  hearty  thanks,  &c.  to  receive  this  Infant  as 
thine  otcn  child  by  baptism,  &  to  incorporate  him,  dc. 

29.  That  in  the  following  exhortation,  the  words  to  renounce 
the  devil  and  all  his  works,  and  in  the  charge  to  the  Sponsors, 
the  words  vulgar  tongue  be  omitted. 


32  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

30.  That  the  forms  of  private  baptism  &  of  Confirmation,  be 
made  conformable  to  tliese  alterations, 

31.  That  in  the  exhortation  before  matrimony,  all  between 
these  words  holy  matrimony,  &  thtrefore  if  any  man,  &c.,  be 
omitted. 

32.  That  the  words  I  plight  thee  my  troth  be  omitted  in  both 
places,  and  also  the  words  icith  my  body  I  thee  worship  ;  and 
also  pledged  their  troth  either  to  other. 

33.  That  all  after  the  blessing  be  omitted. 

34.  In  the  Burial  Service,  instead  of  the  two  Psalms,  take 
the  following  verses  of  both,  viz.  Ps.  39,  Verses  6,  7,  8,  9,  12, 
13,  &  Psalm  90,  to  v.  13.  In  y«  Rubric,  y«  words  "  iinlaptied 
or  "  be  omitted. 

For  the  Declaration  &  form  of  interment,  beginning — Foras- 
much as,  &c.,  insert  the  following — viz.  "Forasmuch  as  it 
hath  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  his  loise  Providence,  to  take  out  of 
this  world  the  soul  of  our  deceased  brother  {sister)  lying  noicbefore 
us  ;  We  therefore  commit  his  [her)  body  to  the  ground,  earth  to 
earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust  ;  (thus  at  sea — to  the  deep  to 
be  turned  into  corruption)  looking  for  the  general  resurrection  in 
the  last  day,  and  the  life  of  the  world  to  come,  thro'  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  ;  at  whose  second  coming  in  glorioits  Majesty,  to 
judge  the  icorld,  the  earth  and  the  sea  shall  give  up  their  dead, 
and  the  corruptible  bodies  of  those  who  sleep  in  him  shall  be 
changed,  and  made  like  unto  his  own  glorious  body,  according  to 
the  mighty  icorking,  whereby  he  is  able  to  subdue  all  things  unto 
Himself" 

In  the  sentence  "  /  heard  a  voice,  tfr."  insert  "  icho "  for 
"  which." 

The  prayer  following  the  Lord's  prayer  to  be  omitted.  In 
tlie  next  collect,  leave  out  the  words  "as  our  hope  is  this  our 
brother  doth."     For  i7ie7n  that  insert  those  who. 

35.  In  the  visitation  of  the  Sick,  instead  of  the  absolution  as 
it  now  stands,  insert  the  declaration  of  forgiveness  which  is 
appointed  for  the  communion  Service,  or,  either  of  the  two  col- 
lects, which  are  taken  from  the  Commination  office,  and  appro- 
priated to  Ash  Wednesday  may  be  used. 

In  the  Psalm,  omit  the  3d,  6th,  8th,  9th,  &  11th  verses.  In 
the  "Commendatory  prayer,"  for  miserable  &  naughty  say 
"  Vain  &  miserable."     Strike  out  the  word  purged. 


"  OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHL:KCH.  33 

In  the  prayer  "  for  persons  troubled  in  mind  "  omit  all  tliat 
stands  between  the  words  "afflicted  Servant,''  and  ''his  Soul  is 
full  &c. ,  &  instead  thereof  say  "  afflicted  Servant,  ichose  Soul  is 
full  of  trouble,"  &  strike  out  the  particle  "But"  &  proceed,  "  0 
merciful  God,"  &c. 

36.  A  form  of  Prayer  &  visitation  of  Prisoners  for  notorious 
crimes,  and  especially  persons  under  sentence  of  death,  being 
much  wanted,  the  form  entituled  "Prayers  for  persons  un- 
der sentence  of  death,  agreed  upon  in  a  Synod  of  the  Arch- 
bishops and  bishops,  and  the  rest  of  the  clergy  of  Ireland,  at 
Dublin,  in  the  year  1711,"  as  it  now  stands  in  the  book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer  of  the  church  of  Ireland,  is  agreed  upon,  and  or- 
dered to  be  adopted,  with  the  following  alterations,  viz  : 

For  the  absolution,  take  the  same  declaration  of  forgiveness, 
or  either  of  the  Collects  above  directed  for  the  visitation  of  the 
Sick.  The  sliort  Collect  "0  Saviour  of  the  world,"  to  be  left  out, 
&  for  the  word  Frailness  say  Frailty. 

37.  In  the  Catechism,  besides  the  alteration  respecting  the 
civil  Powers,  alter  as  follows  :  viz.  What  is  your  name  ?  N. 
M.  When  did  you  receive  this  name  ?  I  received  it  in  Bap- 
tism, whereby  I  became  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
What  was  promised  for  you  in  Baptism  ?  That  I  should  be  in- 
structed to  believe  the  articles  of  the  Christian  faith,  as  con- 
tained in  the  Apostles'  Creed,  &  to  obey  God's  Holy  Will,  and 
keep  his  commandments. 

'•  Dost  thou  think  thou  art  hound  to  believe  all  the  articles  of 
th",  Christian  faith,  as  contained  in  this  Creed,  and  t>  obey  God's 
Holy  Will  &  keep  his  Commandme7its  f"     "  Yes  verily,"  &c. 

Instead  of  the  words  "  verily  &  indeed  taken,"  say — "  Spirit- 
ually taken.'' 

Answer  to  Question  Hoic  many  sacraments  ?  "  Two,  Baptism 
&  y^  Lord's  Supper." 

38.  Instead  of  a  particular  Service  for  the  Churching  of 
women,  &  Psalms,  the  following  special  prayer  is  to  be  intro- 
duced, after  the  General  Thanksgiving  ;  viz.  This  to  be  said, 
when  any  Woman  desires  to  return  thanks,  &c.  "  0  Almighty 
God,  we  give  thee  most  humble  &  hearty  thanks,  for  that  thou 

'hast  been  graciously  pleased  to  preserve  this  Woman,  thy 
Servant,  through  the  great  Pains  and  Perils  of  childbirth. 
Incline  her,  we  beseech  thee,  to  show  forth  Her  Thankfulness, 


81  THE    GENERAL    CONVEXTION" 

for  this  thy  great  mercy,  not  only  Avitli  lier  lips,  but  by  a  holy 
and  virtuous  life.  Be  pleased,  O  God,  so  to  establish  her 
health,  that  she  may  lead  the  remainder  of  her  days  to  thy 
Honour  &,  Glory,  thro'  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,     Amen." 

39.  The  Comminatlon  office  for  Ash  Wednesday  to  be  discon- 
tinued,* and  therefore  the  three  collects,  the  first  beginning, 
1**.  "  0  Lord,  we  beseech  thee,'' — 2°^^.  "  0  most  mighty  God," — 3'"'. 
"  Turn  us,  0  Good  Lord,''  shall  be  continued  among  the  occa- 
sional prayers  ;  and  used  after  the  Collect  on  Ash  Wednesday, 
and  on  such  other  occasions  as  the  Minister  shall  think  fit. 

Ar'ticles  of  Ueligion. 

1.  Of  Faith  ill' the  Holy  Trinity. 

There  is  but  one  living,  true,  and  eternal  God,  the  Father 
Almighty,  without  body,  parts  or  passions  ;  of  infinite  power, 
wisdom  and  goodness  ;  the  maker  and  preserver  of  all  things, 
both  visible  and  invisible  :  and  One  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Son  of 
God,  begotten  of  the  Father  before  all  worlds,  very  and  true 
God  ;  who  came  down  from  heaven,  took  man's  nature  in  the 
womb  of  the  blessed  Virgin  of  her  substance,  and  was  God  and 
man  in  one  person,  whereof  is  one  Christ  ;  who  truly  suffered, 
Avas  crucified,  dead  and  buried,  to  reconcile  his  Father  to  us, 
and  to  be  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  all  men  ;  He  rose  again  from 
death,  ascended  into  Heaven,  and  there  sitteth  untill  he  shall 
return  to  judge  the  world  at  the  last  day  :  and  one  Holy  Spirit, 
the  Lord  &  giver  of  Life,  of  the  same  divine  nature  with  the 
Father  and  the  Son. 

2.  Of  the  sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Scnptures  for  Salvation. 

Holy  Scripture  containeth  all  things  necessary  to  salvation  : 
so  that  whatsoever  is  not  read  therein,  nor  may  be  proved 
thereby,  is  not  to  be  required  of  any  man,  that  it  should  be 
believed  as  an  Article  of  Faith,  or  be  thought  requisite  or  neces- 


*  The  words  "  as  it  is  considered  rather  as  a  discouragement 
to  sincere  Christians  from  coming  to  church  on  that  day,  than 
an  encouragement,"  Avhich  are  in  the  MS.,  are  stricken  out. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHUKCH.  35 

sary  to  salvation.     In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  we  do 
understand  the  canonical  Books  of  the  Old  &  New  Testament. 

Of  the  names  &  numbers  of  the  Canonical  Books. 

Genesis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuteronomy,  Joshua 
Judges,  Ruth,  The  1st  book  of  Samuel,  The  2d  book  of'samuel' 
The  1st  book  of  Kings,  The  2d  book  of  Kings,  The  1st  book  of 
Chronicles,  The  2d  book  of  Chronicles,  The  1st  book  of  Esdras 
The  2d  book  of  Esdras,  The  book  of  Hester,  The  book  of  Job' 
The  Psalms,  The  Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes  or  Preacher,  Cantica 
or  Songs  of  Solomon,  Four  Prophets  the  greater,  Twelve  Pro- 
phets the  Lesser. 

And  the  other  Books  the  Church  doth  read  for  example  of 
life,  and  instruction  of  manners  ;  but  yet  doth  it  not  apply 
them  to  establish  any  doctrine  :  such  are  these  following. 

The  3d  Book  of  Esdras,  The  4th  Book  of  Esdras,  The  Book 
of  Tobias,  The  Book  of  Judith,  The  rest  of  the  book  of  Hester, 
The  book  of  Wisdom,  Jesus  the  son  of  Sirach,  Baruch  the 
Prophet,  The  Song  of  the  three  Children,  The  story  of  Susanna, 
Of  Bel  and  the  Dragon,  The  prayer  of  Manasses,  The  1st  book 
of  Maccabees,  The  2d  book  of  Maccabees. 

All  the  books  of  the  New  Testament,  as  they  are  commonly 
received,  We  do  receive  and  account  them  canonical. 

3.  Of  the  Old  &  New  Testament. 

There  is  a  perfect  harmony  and  agreement  between  the  old 
Testament  and  the  new,  for  in  both  everlasting  life  is  offered 
to  mankind  by  Christ,  who  is  the  only  Mediator  between  God 
and  man  ;  being  both  God  &  man  :  and  altho'  the  law  given  by 
Moses,  as  to  ceremonies  &  the  civil  precepts  of  it,  doth  not  bind 
Christians  :  yet  all  such  are  oblig'd  to  observe  the  moral  com- 
mandments which  he  delivered. 

4.  Of  Creeds. 

The  creed,  commonly  called  the  Apostles'  Creed,  ought  to  be 
received  k  believed  ;  because  it  may  be  proved  by  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 


36  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

5.  Of  Original  Sin. 

By  tlie  fall  of  Adam,  the  nature  of  man  is  become  so  corrupt, 
as  to  be  greatly  depraved,  having  departed  from  its  primitive 
innocence,  and  that  original  righteousness  in  which  it  was  at 
first  created  by  God,  For  we  are  now  so  naturally  inclined  to 
do  evil  that  the  flesh  is  continually  striving  to  act  contrary  to 
the  Spirit  of  God,  which  corrupt  inclination  still  remains  even 
in  the  regenerate  ;  but  tho'  there  is  no  man  living  who  sinneth 
not  ;  yet  we  must  use  our  sincere  endeavors  to  keep  the  whole 
law  of  God,  so  far  as  we  possibly  can. 

6.  Of  Free  Will 

The  Condition  of  man  after  the  fall  of  Adam  is  such,  that 
he  cannot  turn  and  prepare  himself  by  his  C)wn  natural  strength 
and  good  works  to  faith  and  calling  upon  God  :  Wherefore  we 
have  no  power  to  do  good  works,  pleasing  and  acceptable  to 
God,  without  the  grace  of  God  by  Christ  giving  us  a  good  will, 
and  working  with  us,  when  we  have  that  good  will. 

7.  Of  the  Justification  of  Man. 

We  are  accounted  righteous  before  God  only  for  the  merit  of 
our  Lord  k  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  by  faith,  &  not  for  our  own 
works,  or  deservings.  Wherefore  that  we  are  justified  by  faith 
only,  is  a  most  wholesome  doctrine,  and  very  full  of  comfort. 

8.  Of  Good  Works. 

Albeit  that  good  works,  which  are  the  fruits  of  Faith  &  fol- 
low after  Justification,  cannot  put  away  our  sins,  &  endure  the 
severity  of  God's  judgment  ;  yet  are  they  pleasing  &  accept- 
able to  God  in  Christ,  &  do  spring  out  necessarily  of  a  true  & 
lively  faith,  insomuch  that  by  them  a  lively  faith  may  be  p,s 
evidently  known,  as  a  Tree  discerned  by  the  Fruit. 

9.  Of  Christ  alone  without  Sin. 

Christ  by  taking  human  nature  on  him,  was  made  like  unto 
us  in  all  things,  sm  only  excepted.  He  was  a  lamb  without 
spot ;  and  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself  once  offered,  made  atone- 
ment &  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world  ;  and  sin  was  not 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHURCH.  37 

in  him.  But  all  mankind  besides,  tlio'  baptized  &  born  again 
in  Christ,  do  ofEend  in  many  things.  For  if  we  say  we  have 
no  Sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  &  the  truth  is  not  in  us. 

10.  Of  Sin  after  Baptism. 

They  who  fall  into  Sin  after  Baptism  may  be  renewed  by 
repentance ;  for  tho'  after  we  have  received  God's  grace,  we 
may  depart  from  it  by  falling  into  sin  ;  yet,  thro'  the  assistance 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  we  may  by  repentance  &  the  amendment  of 
our  lives,  be  restored  again  to  his  favour.  God  will  not  deny 
repentance  of  sins  to  those  who  truly  repent,  and  do  that  which 
is  lawful  &  right ;  but  all  such  thro'  his  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus, 
shall  save  their  souls  alive. 

11.  [Of  Predestination-I 

Predestination  to  Life,  with  respect  to  every  man's  salvation, 
is  the  everlasting  purpose  of  God,  secret  to  us  :  and  the  right 
knowledge  of  what  is  revealed  concerning  it,  is  full  of  comfort 
to  such  truly  religious  Christians,  as  feel  in  themselves  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  mortifying  the  works  of  their  flesh  and  their 
earthly  affections,  &  raising  their  minds  to  heavenly  things. 
But  we  must  receive  God's  promises  as  they  be  generally  de- 
clared in  Holy  Scripture,  and  do  his  will,  as  therein  is  expressly 
directed  ;  for  without  Holiness  of  Life  no  man  shall  be  saved. 

12.  Of  obtaining  Eternal  Salvation  only  hy  the  Name  of  Gliriat. 

They  are  to  be  accounted  presumptuous,  who  say,  that  every 
man  shall  be  saved  by  the  Law  or  Sect  which  he  professeth, 
so  that  he  be  diligent  to  frame  his  life  according  to  that  Law, 
and  the  light  of  nature.  For  Holy  Scripture  doth  set  out  unto 
us,  only  the  Name  of  Jes.  Christ,  whereby  men  must  be  saved. 

13.  Of  the  Church  and  its  authority. 

The  visible  Church  of  Christ  is  a  congregation  of  faithful 
men,  wherein  the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached,  &  the 
sacraments  are  duly  administered,  according  to  Christ's  ordi- 
nance in  all  things  necessary  &  requisite  :  And  every  Church 
hath  power  to  ordain,  change  &  abolish  rites  &  ceremonies, 


88  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

for  the  more  decent  order  &  good  government  thereof,  so 
that  all  things  be  done  to  edifying.  But  it  is  not  lawful  for 
the  Church  to  ordain  anything  contrary  to  God's  word  ;  nor 
so  to  expound  the  Scripture,  as  to  make  one  part  seem  re- 
pugnant to  another ;  nor  to-  decree  or  enforce  anything  to  be 
believed  as  necessary  to  salvation,  that  is  contrary  to  God's 
holy  word.  General  councils  &  Churches  are  liable  to  err,  & 
have  erred,  even  in  matters  of  Faith  &  Doctrine,  as  well  as  in 
their  ceremonies. 

14.  Of  Ministering  i/i  the  Congregation. 
It  is  not  lawful  for  any  man  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of 
public  preaching,  or  ministering  the  Sacraments  in  the  Con- 
gregation, before  he  be  lawfully  called,  and  sent  to  execute 
the  same.  And  those  we  ought  to  judge  lawfully  called  & 
sent,  who  are  chosen  &  called  to  this  work  by  men  who  have 
public  authority  given  unto  them  in  the^  congregation,  to  call 
&  send  Ministers  into  the  Lord's  vineyard. 

15.  Of  the  Sacraments. 

Sacraments  ordained  of  Christ,  be  not  only  badges  or  tokens 
of  Christian  men's  profession  :  but  rather  they  be  certain  sure 
witnesses,  and  effectual  signs  of  Grace,  and  God's  good  will 
towards  us,  by  the  which  he  doth  work  invisibly  in  us,  and 
doth  not  only  quicken,  but  also  strengthen  &,  confirm  our  faith 
in  him. 

There  are  Two  Sacraments  ordained  of  Christ  our  Lord  in 
the  Gospel,  that  is  to  say.  Baptism  &  the  Supper  of  the  Lord. 

16.   Of  Baptism. 

Baptism  is  not  only  a  Sign  of  profession  and  mark  of  dif- 
ference, whereby  Christian  Men  are  discerned  from  others  that 
be  not  Christened;  but  it  is  also  a  sign  of  regeneration  or  new 
Birth,  whereby  as  by  an  Instrument,  they  that  receive  Bap- 
tism rightly,  are  grafted  into  the  Church,  the  promises  of  the 
forgiveness  of  sin,  and  of  our  Adoption  to  be  the  Sons  of  God, 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  are  visibly  sign'd  &  sealed  ;  Faith  is  con- 
firm'd,  and  Grace  increas'd  by  virtue  of  prayer  unto  God. 
The  Baptism  of  young  Children  is  in  any  wise  to  be  retained 
in  the  Church,  as  moi-t  agreeable  with  the  Institution  of  Christ. 


OF  THE  AMEBIC  AN  CHURCH.        39 

17.  Of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  Supper  of  the  Lord  is  not  only  a  Sign  of  the  Love  that 
Christians  ought  to  have  among  themselves  one  to  another  ; 
but  rather  is  a  Sacrament  of  our  redemption  by  Christ's 
death :  Insomuch  that  to  such  as  rightly,  worthily  and  with 
faith  receive  the  same,  the  Bread  which  we  break,  is  a  par- 
taking of  the  Body  of  Christ:  and  likewise  the  Cup  of  Blessing, 
is  a  partaking  of  the  Blood  of  Christ. 

Transubstantiation  (or  the  change  of  the  substance  of  Bread 
&  Wine)  in  the  Supper  of  the  Lord  cannot  be  proved  by  Holy 
Writ ;  but  is  repugnant  to  the  plain  words  of  Scripture,  over- 
throweth  the  nature  of  a  Sacrament,  and  hath  given  occasion 
to  many  superstitions. 

The  Body  of  Christ  is  given,  taken  &  eaten  in  the  Supper  of 
the  Lord  only  after  an  heavenly  &  spiritual  manner.  And 
the  mean  whereby  the  Body  of  Christ  is  received  and  eaten  in 
the  Supper  is  Faith. 

18.  Of  the  one  Oblation  of  Christ  upon  the  Cross. 

The  offering  of  Christ  once  made,  is  that  perfect  redemption, 
propitiation  &  satisfaction  for  all  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world,  both  original  and  actual;  and  there  is  none  other  satis- 
faction for  sin,  but  that  alone. 

19.  Of  Bishops  &  Ministers. 

The  Book  of  Consecration  of  Bishops  and  ordering  of  Priests 
&  Deacons ;  except  such  part  as  requires  any  oaths  or  sub- 
scriptions inconsistent  with  the  American  Revolution,  is  to  be 
adopted  as  containing  all  things  necessary  to  such  consecration 
&  ordering. 

20.  Of  a  Christian  Man's  Oath. 

The  Christian  Religion  doth  not  prohibit  any  man  from 
taking  an  oath,  when  required  by  the  Magistrate  in  testimony 
of  Truth  ;  But  all  vain  &  rash  swearing  is  forbidden  by  the 
Holy  Scriptures.* 


_  *  W^e  have  given  these  "  Alterations,"  etc.,  'oerhatim  et 
literatim,  from  the  original  mss.  among  the  Convention 
archives  as  they  appear  ere  they  were  pruned  and  polished  by 


40  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

The  original  manuscripts  of  the  preceding  "  Alterations, 
&c.,"  are  still  preserved  among  the  manuscripts  in  the  archives 
of  the  Church.  Immediately  following  these  papers,  and 
apparently  omitted  from  Bp.  White's  printed  copy  by  inadver- 
tence, is  another  sheet,  containing — 

Tlie  Table  of  Holy  Days. 

The  following  Days  are  to  be  kept  Holy  by  this  Ch'li.     Viz. 

All  the  Sundays  in  the  year  in  the  Order  enumerated  in  the 
Table  of  Proper  Lessons  with  their  respective  Services. 

Christmas 

Circumcision 

Epiphany 

Easter  Day,  Monday  and  Tuesday 

Ascension  Day 

Whitsunday,  Monday  and  Tuesday 

The  following  Days  are  to  be  observed  as  Days  of  Fasting. 
Viz. 

Good  Friday  and  Ashwednesday 

The  following  Days  are  to  be  observed  as  Days  of  Thanks- 
giving Viz,  The  4th  of  July  in  Commemoration  of  American 
independence,  and  the  first  Thursday  in  November  as  a  Day 
of  Gen'l  Thanksgiving. 

The  "  Proposed  Book  "  was  hardly  out  of  the 
printer's  hand  before  it  was  evident,  to  quote  the 
language  of  Bishop  White,  "  that,  in  regard  to  the 
Liturgy,  the  labors  of  the  Convention  had  not 
reached  their  ol)ject."*     The  Conventions  of  Penn- 


the  Committee  of  Revision,  who  were  appointed  to  prepare 
the  new  Prayer-Book  for  the  press.  The  comparison  of  the 
Articles  as  they  are  printed  above,  with  those  that  appear  in 
the  "  Proposed  Book"  and  in  Bp.  White's  Memoirs,  will  of  it- 
self alone  prove  the  liberties  taken  by  Drs.  Smith  and  White 
by  virtue  of  their  appointment  "  to  make  verbal  and  gramma- 
tical corrections."  It  is  hardly  a  question  whether,  in  view  of 
the  restriction  of  the  Convention,  "that  nothing  in  form  or 
substance  be  altered,"  they  did  not  greatly  exceed  their  powers. 
*  Memoirs  of  the  Church,  p.  113. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  41 

sylvania,  Maryland,  Yirginia,  and  South-Carolina 
proposed  amendments.  I^ew- Jersey  rejected  the 
book,  and  J^ew-York  postponed  the  question  of  its 
ratification.  No  convention  was  held  in  Delaware, 
while  in  Kew-England  its  introduction  was  never 
attempted,  save  in  isolated  cases.  Maryland  re- 
quired the  restoration  of  the  Nicene  Creed  and  the 
addition  of  an  "  Invocation"  to  the  Consecration 
Prayer  in  the  Communion  Ofiice.*  Yirginia  took 
exceptions  to  the  rubric  before  the  Communion 
Office  allowing  the  minister  to  repel  an  evil  liver 
from  the  Holy  Table  f  ;  while  Pennsylvania,  in 
addition  to  the  Maryland  amendments,  asked  the 
addition  of  a  question  and  answer  in  the  Baptismal 
Office,  enjoining  the  instruction  of  the  child  in  the 
faith  of  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and  suggested  further 
changes  in  the  Burial  Service  and  in  the  Articles.:]: 
The  changes  proposed  in  South-Carolina  comprised 
alterations  and  omissions  in  almost  every  part  of 
the  Liturgy.§  In  short,  the  book  was  condemned 
at  the  outset.  Its  use  was  but  temporary  and  local, 
and  the  volume  itself  speedily  sunk  into  obscurity, 
making  it  now  one  of  the  rarest  of  the  books  illus- 
trative of  our  Ecclesiastical  annals.     It  was,  how- 


*  Perry's  "  Reprint  of  the  Journals,"  III.,  pp  199,  200. 

f  Journals  of  Virginia  Conventions,  appended  to  Hawks's 
Ecclesiastical  Contributions,  I.,  p.  16,  Appendix.  White's 
Memoirs  of  the  Church,  p.  112. 

X  Journal  of  the  Meetings  which  led  to  the  institution  of 
a  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  together  with  the  Journals  of  the  first  six 
Conventions.     Philadelphia,  1790  ;  pp.  15,  16. 

ii  Dulcho's  "  History  of  the  Church  in  South-Carolina,"  pp. 
47i-3. 


42  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

ever,  reprinted  in  London  in  1789,  doubtless  through 
the  agency  of  the  celebrated  Granville  Sharp,  and 
a  reissue  appeared  at  Bath,  England,  in  1847,  form- 
ing the  fifth  volume  of  Hall's  "  Eeliquise  Liturgi- 
cse";  while  an  edition  following  the  English  reprint 
of  1789,  but  omitting  the  Visitation  Office  and  the 
Articles,  was  published  in  New- York  in  1873  in 
the  interest  of  the  "  Cummins  schism."  Such 
is,  in  brief,  the  history  of  this  hasty,  crude,  and 
unsatisfactory  compilation,  which  failed  utterly  to 
establish  itself  in  the  American  church.  It  was, 
and  will  ever  be,  only  the  "  Proposed  Book  ";  and 
the  question  of  its  adoption  was  not  even  considered 
by  the  following  General  Conventions. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  43 


THE  CONVENTIONS   OF   1786. 

On  Tuesday,  the  20th  of  June,  1786,  the  Con- 
vention, agreeably  to  previous  appointment,  as- 
sembled in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  on 
the  Thursday  following  organized,  by  the  choice  of 
the  Kev.  David  Griffith,  of  Virginia,  as  president, 
and  the  Hon.  Francis  Hopkinson  as  secretary.  We 
have  in  Bishop  White's*  own  words  allusion  to  the 
fact  that  "the  Convention  assembled  under  cir- 
cumstances, which  bore  strong  appearances  of  a 
dissolution  of  the  union,  in  this  early  stage  of  it." 
The  answer  of  the  English  Archbishops  and 
Bishops  had  been  cautious.  There  had  grown  up  a 
jealousy,  partly  on  political  and  partly  on  personal 
grounds,  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the  members  of 
the  Convention,  of  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut ;  and 
the  Convention  of  New- York,  under  the  inspira- 
tion of  Mr.  Provoostf,  had  instructed  its  deputies 
"not  to  consent  to  any  acts  that  may  imply  the 
validity  of  Dr.  Seabury's  ordinations."  The  session 
of  1786  was  barely  opened  when  the  Kev.  Eobert 
Smith,  afterwards  the  iirst  Bishop  of  South-Caro- 
lina, offered  a  resolution  evidently  intended  to 
bring  into  dispute  the  validity  of  the  Scottish  Epis- 
copacy, and  the  question  was  raised  at  a  subse- 
quent stage  of  the  proceedings.  But  the  judicious 
application    of    "  the   previous  question"  checked 

*  Memoirs,  p.  115, 

f   Ft^e  Connecticut  Church  Documents,  II.,  pp.  298,  299. 


44:  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

the  debate,  and  the  Convention  declined  to  "  enter 
into  the  opposition  to  the  Scottish  succession,"  * 
Avhich,  so  far  as  the  clergy  were  concerned,  was 
confined  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Provoost  and  the  Eev. 
Eobert  Smith.  A  resolution  w^as  carried  unani- 
mously, on  the  motion  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  White, 
recommending  the  church  in  the  States  represented 
not  to  receive  to  the  pastoral  charge  clergymen 
professing  canonical  subjection  to  any  Bishop  other 
than  those  who  may  be  settled  in  these  States 
respectively.  This  resolution  was  offered  to  meet 
the  allegation  made  on  the  floor  of  Convention  that 
Bishop  Seabary  re(|uired  a  pledge  of  canonical 
obedience  from  those  who  received  Holy  Orders  at 
his  hands,  wherever  they  might  reside.  But  the 
charge  was  denied  by  a  deputy  who  had  been 
ordained  by  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  and  since, 
as  Bishop  White  expressly  states,  there  was  never 
"  any  ground  "f  for  the  measures  than  this  appre- 
hension, the  resolution  was  carried  without  opposi- 
tion. The  unfriendliness  of  this  action  and  the 
spirit  which  prompted  the  persistent  opposition  of 
Provoost  and  Robert  Smith  to  Bishop  Seabury, 
were  followed  by  years  of  alienation  and  dissension 
which  came  but  little  short  of  perpetuating  a 
schism  in  the  infant  Church. 

The  letter  from  England,  though  cautious,  was 
not  discouraging,  and  a  reply  was  at  once  prepared 
acknowledging  the  kindness  of  the  communication, 
renewing  the  request  for  the  succession,  and  repeat- 


*  Bishop  White,  Memoirs,  p.  116. 

f  Memoirs,  p.  116.     Connecticut  Church  Documents,  II. 
300. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  45 

ing  the  assurances  previously  given  of  attachment 
to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship  of  the 
Mother  Church.  This  address,  drafted  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  William  Smith,  but  modified  on  the  motion  of 
the  Hon.  John  Jay,  is  as  follows  : 

To  THE  Most  Reverend  and  Right  Reverend  Fathers 
IN  God,  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  the  Church 
OF  England. 

Most  Wortliy  and  Venerable  Prelates  : 

We,  the  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  States  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  South  Carolina,  have 
received  the  friendly  and  affectionate  letter  which  your  Lord- 
ships did  us  the  honour  to  write  on  the  24th  day  of  February, 
and  for  which  we  request  you  to  accept  our  sincere  and  grateful 
acknowledgments. 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  be  assured,  that  the  success  of  our 
application  will  probably  meet  with  no  greater  obstacles  than 
what  have  arisen  from  doubts  respecting  the  extent  of  the 
alterations  we  have  made  and  proposed  ;  and  we  are  happy  to 
learn,  that  as  no  political  impediments  oppose  us  here,  those 
which  at  present  exist  in  England  may  be  removed. 

While  doubts  remain  of  our*continuing  to  hold  the  same  es- 
sential articles  of  faith  and  discipline  with  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, we  acknowledge  the  propriety  of  suspending  a  compli- 
ance with  our  request. 

We  are  unanimous  and  explicit  in  assuring  your  Lordships, 
that  we  neither  have  departed,  nor  propose  to  depart  from  the 
doctrines  of  your  Church.  We  have  retained  the  same  disci- 
pline and  forms  of  worship  as  far  as  was  consistent  with  our 
civil  Constitutions  ;  and  we  have  made  no  alterations  or  omis- 
sions in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  but  such  as  that  considera- 
tion prescribed,  and  such  as  were  calculated  to  remove  objec- 
tions which  it  appeared  to  us  more  conducive  to  union  and 
general  content  to  obviate  than  to  dispute.  It  is  well  known, 
that  many  great  and  pious  men  of  the  Church  of  England 
have  long  wished  for  a  revision  of  the  Liturgy,  which  it  was 


46  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

deemed  imprudent  to  hazard,  lest  it  might  become  a  precedent 
for  repeated  and  improper  alterations.  This  is  with  us  the 
proper  season  for  such  a  revision.  We  are  now  settling  and 
ordering  the  affairs  of  our  Church,  and  if  wisely  done,  we  shall 
have  reason  to  promise  ourselves  all  the  advantages  that  can 
result  from  stability  and  union. 

We  are  anxious  to  complete  our  Episcopal  system  by  means 
of  the  Church  of  England.  We  esteem  and  prefer  it,  and  with 
gratitude  acknowledge  the  patronage  and  favours  for  which, 
while  connected,  we  have  constantly  been  indebted  to  that 
Church.  These  considerations,  added  to  that  of  agreement  in 
faith  and  worship,  press  us  to  repeat  our  former  request,  and 
to  endeavour  to  remove  your  present  hesitation,  by  sending  you 
our  proposed  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  and  Book  of  Common 
Prayer. 

These  documents,  we  trust,  will  afford  a  full  answer  to  every 
question  that  can  arise  on  the  subject.  We  consider  your 
Lordships'  letter  as  very  candid  and  kind.  We  repose  full 
confidence  in  the  assurance  it  gives  ;  and  that  confidence,  to- 
gether with  the  liberality  and  cathohcism  of  your  venerable 
body,  leads  us  to  flatter  ourselves,  that  you  will  not  disclaim 
a  branch  of  your  Church  merely  for  having  been,  in  your 
Lordships'  opinion,  if  that  should  be  the  case,  pruned  rather 
more  closely  than  its  separation  made  absolutely  necessary. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  as  our  Church  in  sundry  of  these 
States  have  already  proceeded  to  the  election  of  persons  to  be 
sent  for  consecration,  and  others  may  soon  proceed  to  the  same, 
we  pray  to  be  favoured  with  as  speedy  an  answer  to  this  our 
second  address,  as  in  your  great  goodness  you  were  pleased  to 
give  to  our  fonner  one. 

We  are, 
With  great  and  sincere  respect. 

Most  worthy  and  venerable  Prelates, 
Your  obedient  and 

Very  humble  servants. 
Signed  by  the  President  and  Members 
OF  THE  Convention. 

In  Convention  : 
Clirist  Church,  Philadelphia, 
June  20,  1786. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  47 

This  application  went  on  its  mission  with  no 
little  advantage  from  the  passage  by  the  Convention 
of  certain  alterations  in  the  constitution  which 
rendered  it  more  acceptable  to  the  English  pre- 
lates. These  changes  we  give  as  an  important 
part  of  the  history  of  this  important  document, 
as  well  as  revealing  an  increased  conservatism  on 
the  part  of  the  American  Church.  A  comparison 
with  the  constitution  of  1785,  as  given  before,  will 
put  the  reader  in  possession  of  the  constitution  as 
submitted  to  the  English  prelates,  and  will  indicate 
the  tendency  towards  sounder  views  which  prevailed 
at  this  session. 

The  Preamble,  contained  in  three  clauses  or  sec- 
tions, was  agreed  to  without  alteration. 

In  Sect.  I.,  "  Of  the  Constitution,"  the  triennial 
meetings  of  the  General  Convention  were  changed 
from  the  third  Tuesday  in  June  to  the  fourth  Tues- 
day in  July. 

in  Sect.  II.,  after  the  words  "  of  each  Order,"  the 
words  ''chosen  by  the  Convention  of  each  State" 
were  inserted. 

Sects.  III.  and  lY.  were  agreed  to. 

In  Sect.  Y.,  from  the  words  ''  this  general  Eccle- 
siastical Constitution,"  dele  the  Avord  "  general," 
and  insert  the  same  before  the  word  "  Convention," 
in  the  next  line,  so  that  the  sentence  will  read  thus 

"he  shall   be   considered   as   a   member  of   the 

General  Convention  ex  officio,  and  a  Bishop  shall 
always  preside  in  the  General  Convention,  if  any 
of  the  Episcopal  Order  be  present." 

In  Sect.  YL,  dele  the  words  "  by  the  respective 


48  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

Conventions,"  and  insert  "  by  the  Convention  of 
that  State."  After  the  words  "  to  ordain  or  con- 
hrm,"  insert  ''  or  perform  any  other  act  of  the  Epis- 
copal office." 

Sect.  VII.  agreed  to. 

Sect.  YIII.,  after  the  words — "equitable  mode 
of  trial,"  add  these  words, — "  And  at  every  trial  of 
a  Bishop,  there  shall  be  one  or  more  of  the  Episco- 
pal Order  present ;  and  none  but  a  Bishop  shall 
pronounce  sentence  of  deposition  or  degradation 
from  the  Ministry  on  any  Clergyman,  whether 
Bishop,  or  Presbyter,  or  Deacon." 

In  Sect.  IX.  Instead  of  the  words,  "  to  be  the 
desire,"  insert  "  to  be  the  general  desire."  After 
the  words,  "  therefore  the,"  dele  the  whole  subse- 
quent part  of  the  section,  and  in  place  thereof  in- 
sert as  follows :  "  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and 
Administration  of  Sacraments,  and  other  Eites  and 
Ceremonies,  as  revised  and  proposed  to  the  use  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  at  a  Convention 
of  the  said  Church,  in  the  States  of  E'ew-York, 
IvTew- Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  South-Carolina,  may  be  used  by  this 
Church  in  such  of  the  States  as  have  adopted,  or 
may  adopt,  the  same  in  their  particular  Conven- 
tions, till  further  provision  is  made  in  this  case,  by 
the  first  General  Convention  which  shall  assemble 
witli  sufficient  power  to  ratify  a  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  for  the  Church  in  these  States." 

In  Sect.  X.  dele  the  whole  of  this  section,  and  in 
place  thereof  insert  as  follows  : 

"  No  person  shall  be  ordained  until  due  examina- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  49 

tion  had  by  the  Bishop  and  two  Presbyters,  and 
exhibiting  testimonials  of  his  moral  conduct  for  three 
years  past,  signed  by  the  Minister  and  a  majority 
of  the  Vestry  of  the  Church  where  he  last  resided; 
or  permitted  to  officiate  as  a  Minister  in  this  Church 
until  he  has  exhibited  his  Letters  of  Ordination 
and  subscribed  the  following  declaration:  'I  do 
believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  Kew 
Testament  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  to  contain 
all  things  necessary  to  salvation  :  and  I  do  solemnly 
engage  to  conform  to  the  doctrines  and  worship  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  these  United 

States.'  " 

In  Sect.  XI.  dele  the  whole,  and  in  place  thereof 
insert  as  follows : 

"  This  Constitution  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  when 
ratified  by  the  Church  in  a  majority  of  the  States 
assembled  in  General  Convention,  with  sufficient 
power  for  the  purpose  of  such  ratilication,  shall  be 
unalterable  by  the  Convention  of  any  particular 
State,  which  hath  been  represented  at  the  time  of 
said  ratification." 

From  the  title  of  the  Constitution  dele  the  word 
"  Ecclesiastical." 

As  Bishop  White  well  expresses  it,  "  in  the  pre- 
ceding year,  the  points  alluded  to  were  determined 
on  wirti  too  much  warmth,  and  without  investiga- 
tion proportioned  to  the  importance  of  the  subjects. 
The  decisions  of  that  day  were  now  reversed— not 
to  say  without  a  division,  but  without  even  an  op- 


60  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

position.-'*  Among  the  influences  tendinoj  to  pro- 
mote this  moderation,  as  we  learn  from  Bishop 
"White,  was  the  presentation  of  a  memorial  from 
the  Convention  of  the  Church  in  New-Jersey, 
which  by  the  freedom  of  its  criticisms  upon  the 
proceedings  of  the  last  Convention,  and  by  its 
earnest  advocacy  of  a  change  of  action  in  cer- 
tain important  particulars,  "  was  among  the  causes 
w^hich  prevented  the  disorganizing  of  the  Ame- 
rican Church."  f  The  author  of  this  Memorial 
was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bradbury  Chandler,  D.D., 
the  friend  and  correspondent  of  Seabury.  Prior 
to  adjournment,  a  Committee  of  Correspondence 
was  appointed  and  empow^ered  to  call  a  General 
Convention,  at  Wilmington,  in  Delaware,  when 
they  should  deem  it  necessary.  The  expected  con- 
tingency was  not  long  delayed.  Soon  after  the 
rising  of  the  Convention,  a  letter  from  the  Arch- 
bishops came  to  hand  ;  long  as  it  is,  its  importance 
can  not  be  over-estimated ;  it  serves  as  a  formal  and 
authoritative  "  concordat "  between  the  mother  and 
the  daughter  Church  accompanying  the  transmission 
of  the  long-desired  Apostolic  succession. 

To  THE  Committee  op  the  General  Convention  at  Phila- 
delphia, THE  Rev.  Dr.  White,  President,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Smith,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Provost,  the  Hon.  James  Duane, 
Samuel  Powell,  and  Richard  Peters,  Esqrs. 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  : 

Influenced  by  the  same  sentiments  of  fraternal  regard  ex- 
pressed by  the  Arclibisliops  and  Bishops  in  their  answer  to 

*  Memoirs,  p.  117.  f  Ibid.  p.  120. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH  51 

your  address,  we  desire  you  to  be  persuaded,  that  if  we  have 
not  yet  been  able  to  comply  with  your  request,  the  delay  has 
proceeded  from  no  tardiness  on  our  part.  The  only  cause  of  it 
has  been  the  uncertainty  in  which  we  were  left  by  receiving 
your  address,  unaccompanied  by  those  communications  with  re- 
gard to  your  Liturgy,  Articles  and  Ecclesiastical  Constitution, 
without  the  knowledge  of  which  we  could  not  presume  to  ap- 
ply to  the  Legislature  for  such  powers  as  were  necessary  to  the 
completion  of  your  wishes.  The  Journal  of  your  Convention, 
and  the  first  part  of  your  Liturgy,  did  not  reach  us  till  more 
than  two  months  after  our  receipt  of  your  address  ;  and  we 
were  not  in  possession  of  the  remaining  part  of  it,  and  of  your 
articles,  until  the  last  day  of  April.  The  whole  of  your  com- 
munications was  then,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  taken 
into  consideration  at  a  meeting  of  the  Archbishops  and  fifteen 
of  the  Bishops,  being  all  who  were  then  in  London  and  able 
to  attend  ;  and  it  was  impossible  not  to  observe  with  concern, 
that  if  the  essential  doctrines  of  our  common  faith  were  retain- 
ed, less  respect,  however,  was  paid  to  our  Liturgy  than  its  own 
excellence,  and  your  declared  attachment  to  it,  had  led  us  to 
expect :  not  to  mention  a  variety  of  verbal  alterations,  of  the 
necessity  or  propriety  of  which  we  are  by  no  means  satisfied, 
we  saw  with  grief  that  two  of  the  Confessions  of  our  Christian 
faith,  respectable  for  their  antiquity,  have  been  entirely  laid 
aside  ;  and  that  even  in  that  called  the  Apostles'  Creed,  an  arti- 
cle is  omitted  which  was  thought  necessary  to  be  inserted,  with 
a  view  to  a  particular  heresy,  in  a  very  early  age  of  the  Church, 
and  has  ever  since  had  the  venerable  sanction  of  universal  re- 
ception. Nevertheless,  as  a  proof  of  the  sincere  desire  which 
we  feel  to  continue  in  spiritual  communion  with  the  mem- 
bers of  your  Church  in  America,  and  to  complete  the  Orders  of 
your  Ministry,  and  trusting  that  the  communications  which  we 
shall  make  to  you,  on  the  subject  of  these  and  some  other 
alterations,  will  have  their  desired  effect,  we  have,  even 
under  these  circumstances,  prepared  a  Bill  for  conveying  to  us 
the  powers  necessary  for  this  purpose.  It  will  in  a  few  days 
be  presented  to  Parliament,  and  we  have  the  best  reasons  to 
hope  that  it  will  receive  the  assent  of  the  Legislature.  This 
Bill  will  enable  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops  to  give  Episcopal 
consecration  to  the  persons  who  shall  be  recommended,  with- 


52  THE   GENEKAL   CONVENTION 

out  requiring  from  them  any  oaths  or  subscriptions  inconsistent 
with  the  situation  in  which  the  late  Revolution  has  placed 
them  ;  upon  condition  that  the  full  satisfaction  of  the  suffi- 
ciency of  the  persons  recommended,  which  you  offer  to  us  in 
your  address,  be  given  to  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops.  You 
will  doubtless  receive  it  as  a  mark  both  of  our  friendly  dispo- 
sition toward  you,  and  of  our  desire  to  avoid  all  delay  on  this 
occasion,  that  we  have  taken  this  earliest  opportunity  of  convey- 
ing to  you  this  intelligence,  and  that  we  proceed  (as  supposing 
ourselves  invested  with  that  power  which  for  your  sakes  we  have 
requested)  to  state  to  you  particularly  the  several  heads  upon 
which  that  satisfaction  which  you  offer  will  be  accepted,  and  the 
mode  in  which  it  may  be  given.  Tlie  anxiety  which  is  shown  by 
the  Church  of  England  to  prevent  the  intrusion  of  unqualified 
persons  into  even  the  inferior  offices  of  our  Ministry,  confirms 
our  own  sentiments,  and  points  it  out  to  be  our  duty,  very  earn- 
estly to  require  the  most  decisive  proofs  of  the  qualifications  of 
those  who  may  be  offered  for  admission  to  that  Order  to  which 
the  superintendence  of  those  offices  is  committed.  At  our 
several  Ordinations  of  a  Deacon  and  a  Priest,  the  candidate 
submits  himself  to  the  examination  of  the  Bishop  as  to  his  pro- 
ficiency in  learning  ;  he  gives  the  proper  security  of  his  sound- 
ness in  the  Faith  by  the  subscriptions  which  are  made  previous- 
ly necessary  ;  he  is  required  to  bring  testimonials  of  his  vir- 
tuous conversation  during  the  three  preceding  years  ;  and  that 
no  mode  of  inquiry  may  be  omitted,  public  notice  of  his  offer- 
ing himself  to  be  ordained  is  given  in  the  Parish  church  where 
he  resides  or  ministers,  and  the  people  are  solemnly  called 
upon  to  declare  if  they  know  any  impediment,  for  the  which 
he  ought  not  to  be  admitted.  At  the  time  of  Ordination,  too, 
the  same  solemn  call  is  made  on  the  congregation  then  present. 
Examination,  subscription,  and  testimonials  are  not  indeed 
repeated  at  the  consecration  of  an  English  bishop,  because  the 
person  to  be  consecrated  has  added  to  the  securities  given  at 
his  former  ordinations,  that  sanction  which  arises  from  hi^ 
having  constantly  lived  and  exercised  his  ministry  under  the 
eyes  and  observation  of  his  country.  But  the  objects  of  our 
present  consideration  are  very  differently  circumstanced  ;  their 
sufficiency  in  learning,  the  soundness  of  their  faith,  and  th^ 
purity  of  their  manners,  are  not  matters  of  notoriety  here- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  53 

Means,  therefore,  must  be  found  to  satisfy  the  Archbishop  who 
consecrates,  and  the  Bishops  who  present  them,  that,  in  the 
words  of  our  Church,  "they  be  apt  and  meet  for  their  learning 
and  godly  conversation,  to  exercise  their  ministry  duly  to  the 
honour  of  God  and  the  edifying  of  his  Church,  and  to  be 
wholesome  examples  and  patterns  to  the  flock  of  Christ. " 

With  regard  to  the  first  qualification,  sufficiency  in  good 
learning,  we  apprehend  that  the  subjecting  a  person,  who  is  to 
be  admitted  to  the  office  of  a  Bishop  in  the  Church,  to  that  ex- 
amination which  is  required  previous  to  the  ordination  of  Priests 
and  Deacons,  might  lessen  that  reverend  estimation  which 
ought  never  to  be  separated  from  the  Episcopal  character  :  we 
therefore  do  not  require  any  further  satisfaction  on  this  point, 
than  will  be  given  to  us  by  the  forms  of  testimonials  in  the  an- 
nexed paper,*  fully  trusting  that  those  who  sign  them  will  ba 
well  aware,  how  greatly  incompetence  in  this  respect  must  les- 
sen the  weight  and  authority  of  the  Bishop  and  affect  the  credit 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Under  the  second  head,  that  of  subscription,  our  desire  is  to 
require  that  subscription  only  to  be  repeated,  which  you  have 
already  been  called  upon  to  make  by  the  Tenth  Article  of  your 
Ecclesiastical  Constitution  :  but  we  should  forget  the  duty 
which  we  owe  to  our  own  Church,  and  act  inconsistently  with 
that  sincere  regard  which  we  bear  to  yours,  if  we  were  not  ex- 
plicit in  declaring,  that,  after  the  disposition  we  have  shown 
to  comply  with  the  prayer  of  your  address,  we  think  it  now  in- 
cumbent upon  you  to  use  your  utmost  exertions  also  for  the 
removal  of  any  stumbling-block  of  offence  which  may  possibly 
prove  an  obstacle  to  the  success  of  it.  We  therefore  most 
earnestly  exhort  you,  that  previously  to  the  time  of  your 
making  such  subscription,  you  restore  to  its  integrity  the 
Apostles'  Creed,  in  which  you  have  omitted  an  article,  merely, 
as  it  seems,  from  misapprehension  of  the  sense  in  which  it  is 
understood  by  our  Church  ;  nor  can  we  help  adding,  that  we 
hope  you  will  think  it  but  a  decent  proof  of  the  attachment 
which  you  profess  to  the  services  of  your  Liturgy,  to  give  to 
the  other  two  Creeds  a  place  in  your  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 

*  These  Testimonials,  which  are  still  in  use,  are  not  ap- 
pended. 


54         THE  GENERAT.  CONVENTION 

even  though  the  use  of  them  should  be  left  discretional.  We 
should  be  inexcusable,  too,  if,  at  the  time  when  you  are  re- 
questing the  establishment  of  Bishops  in  your  Church,  we  did 
not  strongly  represent  to  you  that  the  Eighth  Article  of  your  Ec- 
clesiastical Constitution  appears  to  us  to  be  a  degradation  of 
the  Clerical,  and  still  more  of  the  Episcopal  character.  We 
persuade  ourselves,  that  in  your  ensuing  Convention  some  al- 
teration will  be  thought  necessary  in  this  article,  before  this 
reaches  you  ;  or,  if  not,  that  due  attention  will  be  given  to  it 
in  consequence  of  our  representation. 

On  the  third  and  last  head,  which  respects  purity  of  manners, 
the  reputation  of  the  Church,  both  in  England  and  America, 
and  the  interest  of  our  common  Christianity,  is  so  deeply 
concerned  in  it,  that  we  feel  it  our  indispensable  duty  to  pro- 
vide, on  this  subject,  the  most  effectual  securities.  It  is  pre- 
sumed, that  the  same  previous  public  notice  of  the  intention  of 
the  person  to  be  consecrated,  will  be  given  in  the  Church  where 
he  resides  in  America,  for  the  same  reasons,  and  therefore 
nearly  in  the  same  form  with  that  used  in  England  before  our 
Ordinations.  The  call  upon  the  persons  present  at  the  time  of 
consecration,  must  be  deemed  of  little  use  before  a  congrega- 
tion composed  of  those  to  whom  the  person  to  be  consecrated  is 
unknown.  The  testimonials  signed  by  persons  living  in  Eng- 
land admit  of  reference  and  examination,  and  the  characters  of 
those  who  give  them  are  subject  to  scrutiny,  and  in  cases  of 
criminal  deceit  to  punishment.  In  proportion  as  these  circum- 
stances are  less  applicable  to  testimonials  from  America,  those 
testimonials  must  be  more  explicit,  and  supported  by  a  greater 
number  of  signatures.  We  therefore  think  it  necessary  that 
the  several  persons,  candidates  for  Episcopal  consecration, 
should  bring  to  us,  both  a  testimonial  from  tbe  General  Con- 
vention of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  with  as  many  sig- 
natures as  can  be  obtained,  and  a  more  particular  one,  from  the 
respective  Conventions  in  those  States  which  recommend  them. 
It  will  appear  from  the  tenor  of  the  letters  testimonial  used  in 
England,' a  form  of  which  is  annexed,  that  the  ministers  who 
sign  them  bear  testimony  to  the  qualifications  of  the  candidates 
on  their  own  personal  knowledge.  Such  a  testimony  is  not  to 
be  expected  from  the  members  of  the  General  Convention 
of.  the  Episcopal  Church   in  America  on  this  occasion.     We 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  55 

think  it  sufficient,  therefore,  that  they  declare  they  know  no 
impediment,  but  believe  the  person  to  be  consecrated  is  of  a 
virtuous  life  and  sound  faith.  We  have  sent  you  such  a  form 
as  appears  to  us  proper  to  be  used  for  that  purpose.  More 
specific  declarations  must  be  made  by  the  members  of  the  Con- 
vention in  each  State  from  which  the  persons  offered  for  conse- 
cration are  respectively  recommended  ;  their  personal  knov/- 
ledge  of  them  there  can  be  no  doubt  of ;  we  trust,  therefore, 
they  will  have  no  objection  to  the  adoption  of  the  form  of  a 
testimonial  which  is  annexed,  and  drawn  upon  the  same  princi- 
ples, and  containing  the  same  attestations  of  personal  know- 
ledge with  that  above  mentioned,  as  required  previously  to  our 
Ordinations.  We  trust  we  shall  receive  these  testimonials 
signed  by  such  a  majority  in  each  Convention  that  recommend, 
as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  the  fitness  of  the  candidates  upon  the 
minds  of  those  whose  consciences  are  concerned  in  the  consecra- 
tion of  them. 

Thus  much  we  have  thought  it  right  to  communicate  to  you, 
without  reserve,  at  present,  intending  to  give  you  farther  in- 
formation as  soon  as  we  are  able.  In  the  mean  time,  we  pray 
God  to  direct  your  counsels  in  this  very  weighty  matter,  and 
are, 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen. 

Your  affectionate  Brethren, 

J.  CANTUAR. 

W.  EBOR. 


Another  letter,  brief,  but  to  the  point,  continued 
and  concluded  this  interesting  correspondence  : 
To  THE  Committee   op  the  General  Convention,  etc., 

ETC. 

Canterbury,  July  4th,  1786. 
Gentlemen  : 

The  enclosed  Act  being  now  passed,  I  have  the  satisfaction 
of  communicating  it  to  you.  It  is  accompanied  by  a  copy  of  a 
letter,  and  some  forms  of  testimonials,  which  I  sent  you  by  the 
packet  of  last  month.  It  is  the  opinion  here,  that  no  more 
than  three  bishops  should  be  consecrated  for  the  United  States 


56  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

of  America,  wlio  may  consecrate  otliers  at  tlieir  return,  if  more 
be  found  necessary.  But  whether  we  can  consecrate  any  or 
not,  must  yet  depend  on  the  answers  we  may  receive  to  what 
we  have  written. 

I  am  your  humble  servant, 

J.  CANTUAR. 

Copies  of  these  letters,  forwarded  by  post  or  by 
special  messengers,  bore  north  and  south  the  assur- 
ance that  the  wish  of  the  American  Church  for  the 
Episcopate  in  the  Enghsh  line,  wanted  but  a  little 
of  full  accomplishment,  and  the  mails  shortly  car- 
ried far  and  wide  the  call  for  the  reassembling  of 
the  Convention  for  immediate  action  to  secure  this 
end. 

On  the  10th  of  October  the  Convention  met. 
The  president,  the  Kev.  Dr.  Griffith,  being  absent, 
the  Kev.  Dr.  Provoost  presided.  The  session  of 
this  adjourned  meeting  was  brief,  lasting  but  two 
days,  but  its  action,  which  we  give  below,  w^as  of 
marked  importance : 

An  Act  of  the  General  Convention  op  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
in  the  States  of  New- York,  New-Jersey,  Pi:nnsyl- 
vania,  Delaware,  and  South-Carolina,  held  at  Wil- 
mington, IN  THE  State  of  Delaware,  on  Wednesday 
the  11th  op  October,  1786. 

Whereas,  at  a  General  Convention  of  Clerical  and  Lay  De- 
puties of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  sundry  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  viz.,  New-York,  New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  South-Caro- 
lina, holden  at  the  City  of  Pliiladelphia,  on  the  Tuesday  before 
the  Feast  of  St.  Michael,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1785,  and  divers 
subsequent  days,  it  was  agreed  and  declared,  that.  "  The  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  and 


OF   THK    AAIERICAN    CHURCH.  57 

other  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  the  Church,  according  to  the  use 
of  the  Church  of  England,"  should  be  continued  to  be  used  by 
this  Church,  as  the  same  was  altered  by  the  said  Convention, 
in  a  certain  instrument  of  -writing,  passed  by  their  authority, 
entituled,  "  Alterations  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  order  to  render 
the  same  conformable  to  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  Con- 
stitutions of  the  respective  States."  And  it  was  further  agreed 
and  declared,  that  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  Adminis- 
tration of  the  Sacraments,  and  other  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of 
the  Church,  according  to  the  use  of  the  Church  of  England,  as 
altered  by  an  instrument  of  writing  passed  under  the  authority 
of  the  aforesaid  Convention,  entituled,  "  Alterations  in  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  and 
other  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  the  Church,  according  to  the  use 
of  the  Church  of  England,  proposed  and  recommended  to  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
should  be  used  in  this  Church,  when  the  same  should  have  been 
ratified  by  the  Conventions  which  had  respectively  sent  deputies 
to  the  said  General  Convention."  And  thereupon  the  said  Con- 
vention, anxious  to  compleat  their  Episcopal  system  by  means 
of  the  Chur;'h  of  England,  did  subscribe  and  transmit  an 
address  to  tlie  Most  Reverend  and  Right  Reverend  the  Arch- 
bishops of  Canterbury  and  York,  and  the  Bishops  of  the  Church 
of  England,  earnestly  entreating  that  venerable  body  to  confer 
the  Episcopal  character  on  such  persons  as  should  be  recom- 
mended by  this  Church  in  the  several  States  so  represented. 

And  whereas  the  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  tliis  Church, 
have  received  the  most  friendly  and  affectionate  letters,  in  an- 
swer to  th  3  said  address,  from  the  said  Archbishops  and  Bishops, 
opening  a  fair  i)r.:)sp?ct  of  the  success  of  their  said  applications, 
but  at  the  same  time  earnestly  exhorting  this  Convention  to 
use  their  utmost  exertions  for  the  removal  of  certain  objections 
by  them  made,  against  some  parts  of  the  alterations  in  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  this 
Church,  lai^t  mentioned.  In  pursuance  whereof,  this  present 
General  Convention  hath  b.'en  called  and  is  now  assembled  : 
and  being  sincerely  desirous  to  give  every  satisfaction  to  their 
Lordships  which  will  be  consistent  with  the  union  and  general 
content  of  the  Church  thoy  represent,  and  declaring  their  stead- 


58  THE    (rKNEKAIi    CONVENTION 

fast  resolutiou  to  maintain  the  same  essential  Articles  of  Faitli 
and  Discipline  with  the  Church  of  England  : 

Now,  therefore,  the  said  Deputies  do  hereby  determine  and 
declare, 

First, — That  in  the  Creed  commonly  called  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  these  words,  "  He  descended  into  Hell,"  shall  be  and 
continue  a  part  of  that  Creed. 

Secondly,— That  the  Nicene  Creed  shall  also  be  inserted  in 
.the  said  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  immediately  after  the  Apos- 
tles' Creed,  prefaced  with  the  Kubrick  (or  this). 

And  whereas, — In  consequence  of  the  objections  expressed 
by  their  Ijordships  to  the  alterations  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  last  mentioned,  the  Conventions  in  some.of  the  States 
represented  in  this  General  Convention  have  suspended  the 
ratification  and  use  of  the  said  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  by 
reason  whereof  it  will  be  improper  that  persons  to  be  conse- 
crated or  ordained  as  Bishops,  Priests,  or  Deacons  respectively, 
should  subscribe  the  declaration  contained  in  the  Tenth  Article 
of  the  General  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  without  some  modi- 
fication : 

Therefore,  it  is  hereby  determined  and  declared, 
.Thirdly,— That  the  second  clause  so  to  be  subscribed  by 
a  Bishop,  Priest,  or  Deacon  of  this  Church,  in  any  of  the  States 
which  have  not  already  ratified  or  used  the  last-mentioned 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  shall  be  in  the  words  following  : 
"  And  I  do  solemnly  engage  to  conform  to  the  doctrine  and  wor- 
ship of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  according  to  the  use 
of  the  Church  of  England,  as  the  same  is  altered  by  the  General 
Convention,  in  a  certain  instrument  of  writing  passed  by  their 
authority,  entituled,  '  Alterations  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Protes- 
ant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  order 
to  render  the  same  conformable  to  the  American  Revolution, 
ajid  the  Constitutions  of  the  respective  States,'  until  the  new 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  recommended  by  the  General  Con- 
vention, shall  be  ratified  or  used  in  tlie  State  in  which  I  am 
— (Bishop,  Priest,  or  Deacon,  as  the  ca.^e  m  ly  be) — by  the  au- 
thority of  the  Convention  thereof.  And  I  do  further  solemnly 
engage,  that  when  the  said  new  Book  of  Common  Prayer  shall 
be  ratified  or  used  by  the  authority  of  the  Convention  in  the 
State  for  which  I  am  consecrated  a  Bishop — (or  ordained  a 


OF   THE    AMEHICAX    CHUKClf.  59 

Priest  or  Deacon)-!  will  conform  to  the  doctrines  and  worship 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  as  settled  and  determined 
in  the  last-mentioned  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  Adminis- 
tration of  the  Sacraments,  set  forth  by  the  General  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States." 
And  it  is  hereby  further  determined  and  declared, 
That  these  words  in  the  Preface  to  the  new  proposed  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  viz.,  "In  the  Creed,  commonly  called 
'the  Apostles  Creed,'  one  clause  is  omitted,  as  being  of  uncer- 
tam  meaning,  and  "-together  with  the  note  referred  to  in  that 
place,  be,  from  henceforth,  no  part  of  the  Preface  to  the  said 
proposed  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

And  it  is  hereby  further  determined  and  declared 
That  the  Fourth  Article  of  Religion  in  the  new  proposed 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  be  altered  to  render  it  conformable 
to  the  adoption  of  the  Nicene  Creed,  as  follows:  "Of  the 
Creeds.  The  two  Creeds,  namely,  that  commonly  called  the 
Apostles'  Creed  and  the  Nicene  Creed,  ought  to  be  received  and 
believed,  because  they,"  etc.,  etc. 

Bone  in  General  Convention,  at    Wilmington,    in  the 
State  of  Delaware,  the  day  and  year  first  aforesaid. 

The  votes  on  the  question  as  to  tlie  restoration 
of  the  words  ^' He  descended  into  Hell,"  in  tlie 
Apostles'  Creed,  were  as  follows  : 

NEW-Y0KK.-Rev.  Dr.  Provoost.  Aye  ;  Mr.  Duane,  Aye  ;  Mr 
Rutherford,  No.— Divided. 

NEW-JERSEY.-Rev.  Mr.  Ogden,  Aye  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Frazer,  Aye  ; 
Mr.  Wallace,  Aye;  Mr.  Cox,  No  ;  Mr.  Waddel,  Aye  -Aye 

PENNSYLVANIA.-Bev.  Dr.  White,  Aye  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Magaw 
Aye  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Blackwell,  Aye  ;  Mr.  Hopkinson,  No ;  Mr.' 
Powel,  No  ;  Mr.  Gilpin,  No.— Divided. 

Delaware.— Rev.  Dr.  Wharton,  No  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thorne,  Aye; 
Mr.  Sykes,  Aye  ;  Mr.  Grantham,  No.— Divided. 

South-Carolina.— Rev.  Robert  Smith,  Aye  ;  Mr.  Rutledge 
Aye. — Aye.  ' 

The  adoption  of  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
this  question  was  the  result,  not  of  a  majority  of 


00  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

votes  in  its  favor,  but  of  the  nullity  of  the  votes  of 
those  churches  in  which  the  clergy  and  the  laity  were 
divided.  The  vote  restoring  the  Nicene  Creed  was 
unanimous.  On  the  question  of  admitting  the 
Creed  commonly  called  the  Athanasian,  the  votes 
were  as  follows  : 

New- York. — Rev.  Dr.  Provoost,  No  ;  Mr.  Diiane,  No  ;  Mr. 
Rutherford,  No. — Nay. 

New- Jersey. — Rev.  Mr.  Ogden,  No  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Frazer,  No  ; 
Mr.  Cox,  No  ;  Mr.  Wallace,  Aye  ;  Mr.Waddel,  Aye. — Divided. 

Pennsylvania. — Rev.  Dr.  Wliite,  No  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Magaw, 
No ;  Rev.  Mr.  Blackwell,  No  ;  Mr.  Hopkinson,  No  ;  Mr.  Powel, 
No  ;  Mr.  Gilpin,  No. — Nay. 

Delaware. — Rev.  Dr.  Wharton,  No  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Thorne,  Aye  ; 
Mr.  Sykes,  No  ;  Mr.  Grantham,  No. — Divided. 

South-Carolina.— Rev.  Robert  Smith,  No  ;  Mr.  Rutledge. 
No, — Nay. 

And  so  it  was  determined  in  the  negative. 

At  this  Convention  the  testimonials  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  White,  as  Bishop-elect  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Provoost,  as  Bishop-elect  of  New- York,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Griffith,  as  Bishop-elect  of  Yirginia,  were 
signed  by  the  members;  and,  though  there  is  no 
mention  of  the  fact  in  the  records,'^  the  application 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith,  the  Bishop -elect  of 
Maryland,  for  a  similar  recommendation,  as  we  learn 
from  the  Bishop  White  mss.,  was  refused.  Dr. 
Smith,  though  present  at  the  Convention,  was  de- 
prived of  his  vote,  it  being  decided  that  a  clerical 
or  lay  delegate  only  could   not   represent  a  State. 


*  Bishop  Wliite  in  his  Memoirs  passes  over  this  occurrence 
in  silence,  unless  a  paragraph  on  p.  133  should  be  construed  as 
rof erring  to  it. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  61 

The  refusal  to  recommend  Dr.  Smith  for  consecra- 
tion was  occasioned  by  the  charge  of  irregularities 
in  life.  It  speaks  well  for  the  courage  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Convention  that  they  could  thus  refuse, 
on  moral  grounds,  to  gratify  the  ambition  of  per- 
haps the  foremost  man  in  intellect  and  reputation 
in  the  churches  represented  therein.  It  is  also  to 
be  remembered,  that  the  disappointed  candidate  for 
the  Church's  highest  honors,  displayed  in  after  life 
no  rankling  sense  of  this  severe  rebuke,  and  no  di- 
minution of  his  zeal  for  the  Church  for  which  he 
had  labored  so  long.  As  has  well  been  said  by  a  dis- 
tinguished prelate  of  our  Church,  the  late  Bishop 
Burgess  of  Maine,  "  No  assembly  of  the  American 
Church  has  occupied  itself  with  transactions  of 
greater  pregnancy  than  those  which  in  October, 
1786,  were  settled  by  the  voices  of  twenty  men  in 
two  days." 

On  Tuesday,  the  2d  of  November,  1786,  the  Kev. 
Drs.  "White  and  Provoost  embarked  for  England, 
and  after  a  passage  of  three  weeks,  landed  at  Fal- 
mouth. The  story  of  the  various  steps  preceding 
the  consecration  is  detailed  in  Bishop  White's  Me- 
moirs of  the  Church.  The  solemn  act  of  conferring 
the  long-sought  Apostolical  succession  on  the  Ame- 
rican candidates,  took  place  in  the  chapel  of  Lam- 
beth Palace,  on  Sunday,  the  4th  of  February,  1787. 
The  two  Archbishops,  and  the  Bishops  of  Bath  and 
Wells,  and  Peterborough,  united  in  the  imposition 
of  hands.  On  the  evening  of  the  following  day, 
the  Bishops  of  Pennsylvania  and  New-York  left 
London  on  their  homeward  journey,  and  after  a  voy- 


62  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

age  of  seven  weeks,  landed  at  New- York  on  the  after- 
noon of  Easter  Sunday,  April  the  7th.  Thus  was 
completed  the  "  struggle  for  the  Episcopate"  in  the 
English  line.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  quote,  in 
passing,  the  words  of  the  sagacious  Parker,  of  Bos- 
ton, afterwards  Bishop  of  Massachusetts,  addressed 
to  White.  "  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  we 
should  never  have  obtained  the  succession  from 
England,  had  he,  [Bishop  Seabury,]  or  some  other, 
not  have  obtained  it  iirst  from  Scotland."* 

*Ck)im.  Ch.  Documents,  ii.,  p.  301. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  63 


THE    CO^YENTIOKS    OF    1789. 

As  the  three  eventful  years  subsequent  to  the 
Conventions  of  1786  were  drawing  to  a  close, 
measures  were  taken  at  the  suggestion  of  Bishop 
White,  and  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Parker,  for 
a  union  of  the  churches  in  Xew-Eno-land  with 
those  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States.  These 
efforts  took  form  in  the  following  application  to  the 
Convention  of  1789,  which  assembled  on  28th  of 
July,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Bishop  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Bishop  Provoost  being  absent : 

The  good  providence  of  Almighty  God,  the  fountain  of  all 
goodness,  having  lately  blessed  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  by  supplying  it  with 
a  complete  and  entire  Ministry,  and  affording  to  many  of  her 
communion  the  benefit  of  the  labours,  advice,  and  government 
of  the  successors  of  the  Apostles  : 

We,  Presbyters  of  said  Church  in  the  States  of  Massachusetts 
and  New-Hampshire, deeply  impressed  with  the  most  lively  grat- 
itude to  the  Supreme  Governor  of  the  universe,  for  his  goodness 
in  this  respect,  and  with  the  most  ardent  love  to  his  Church, 
and  concern  for  the  interest  of  her  sons,  that  they  may  enjoy 
all  the  means  that  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of 
souls,  has  instituted  for  leading  his  followers  into  the  ways  of 
truth  and  holiness,  and  preservhig  his  Church  in  the  unity  of 
the  spirit  and  the  bond  of  peace,  to  the  end  that  the  people 
committed  to  our  respective  charges  may  enjoy  the  benefit  and 
advantage  of  those  offices,  the  administration  of  which  belongs 
to  the  highest  Order  of  the  Ministry,  and  to  encourage  and 
wromote,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  a  union  of  the  whole  Episcopal 


64  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

C'liurcli  in  these  States,  and  to  perfect  and  compact  this  mys- 
tical body  of  Christ,  do  hereby  nominate,  elect,  and  appoint, 
tlie  Rev.  Edward  Bass,  a  Presbyter  of  said  Church,  and  Rec- 
tor of  St.  Paul's,  in  Nevvburyport,  to  be  our  Bishop  ;  and  we 
do  promise  and  engage  to  receive  him  as  such,  when  canonical- 
ly  consecrated,  and  invested  with  the  apostolic  office  and 
powers  by  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops  hereafter  named, 
and  to  render  him  all  that  canonical  obedience  and  submission 
which,  by  the  laws  of  Christ,  and  the  constitution  of  our 
Church,  is  due  to  so  important  an  office. 

And  we  now  address  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops  in  the 
States  of  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania,  praying 
their  united  assistance  in  consecrating  our  said  brother,  and 
canonically  investing  him  wdth  the  apostolic  office  and  powers. 
This  request  we  are  induced  to  make,  from  a  long  acquaint- 
ance with  him,  and  from  a  perfect  knowledge  of  his  being 
possessed  of  that  love  to  God,  and  benevolence  to  men,  that 
piety,  learning,  and  good  morals,  that  prudence  and  discretion, 
requisite  to  so  exalted  a  station,  as  well  as  that  personal  respect 
and  attachment  of  the  communion  at  large  in  these  States, 
wbich  will  make  him  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  Order,  and, 
we  trust,  a  rich  blessing  to  the  Church. 

Done  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbyters  whose  names  are  under- 
written, held  at  Salem,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  and  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts,  the  fourth  day  of  June,  Anno  Salutis, 
1789. 

Samuel  Pakker,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

T.  Fitch  Oliver,  Rector  of  St.  Michael's  Church,  Mar- 
blehead. 

John  Cousens  Ogden,  Rector  of  Queen's  Chapel,  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H. 

William  Montague,  Minister  of  Christ  Church,  Boston. 

TiLLOTSON    Brunson,    Assistant    Minister    of    Christ 
Church,  Boston. 
A  true  copy.     Attest  :  Samuei^  Parker. 

At  the  meeting  aforesaid, 

Voted, — That  the  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  be  authorised  and 
empowered  to  transmit  copies  of  the  foregoing  Act,  to  be  by 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  65 

him  attested,  to  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops  in  Connecti- 
cut, New- York,  and  Pennsylvania  ;  and  that  lie  be  appointed 
our  agent,  to  appear  at  any  Convocation  to  be  holden  at  Penn- 
sylvania or  New-York,  and  to  treat  upon  any  measures  that 
may  tend  to  promote  an  union  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
throughout  the  United  States  of  America,  or  that  may  prove 
advantageous  to  the  interests  of  said  Church. 

EDWARD  BASS,  Chairman. 
A  true  copy.     Attest :  Samuel  Parker. 

The  Convention,  as  we  learn  from  Bishop 
Whitej*  "  manifested  a  strong  desire  of  complying 
with"  this  request.  The  sole  obstacle  to  the  plan 
arose  from  the  implied  obligation  on  the  part  of 
the  two  Bishops  in  the  English  line  to  complete  the 
Canonical  number  (three)  in  the  same  line  ere  pro- 
ceeding to  transmit  the  powers  they  had  received. 
After  a  week's  discussion,  the  Convention  adopted 
the  following  resolutions : 

Ut.  Eesolved, — That  a  complete  Order  of  Bishops,  derived 
as  well  under  the  English  as  the  Scots  line  of  Episcopacy,  doth 
now  subsist  within  the  United  States  of  America,  in  the  per- 
sons of  the  Right  Rev.  William  White,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  ; 
the  Right  Rev.  Samuel  Provoost,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  said 
Church  in  the  State  of  New- York,  and  the  Right  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  said  Church  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut. 

2d.  Resolved,— Thsii  the  said  three  Bishops  are  fully  com- 
petent to  every  proper  act  and  duty  of  the  Episcopal  office  and 
character  in  these  United  States,  as  well  in  respect  to  the  con- 
secration of  other  Bishops,  and  the  ordering  of  Priests  and 
Deacons,  as  for  the  government  of  the  Church,  according  to 
such  rules,  Canons,  and  institutions  as  now  are,  or  hereafter 
may  be,  duly  made  and  ordained  by  the  Church  in  that  case. 

*  Memoirs,  p.  142. 


66  THE    GENERAL   CONVENTION 

3d!.  Resolved, — Tliat  in  Christian  cliarity,  as  well  as  of  duty, 
necessity,  and  expediency,  the  Churches  represented  in  this 
Convention  ought  to  contribute,  in  every  manner  in  their 
power,  towards  supplying  the  wants,  and  granting  every  just 
and  reasonable  request  of  their  sister  Churches  in  these  States  ; 
and,  therefore, 

Uh.  Resolved, — That  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  White  and  the 
Right  Rev.  Dr.  Provoost  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  requested  to 
join  with  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Seabury,  in  complying  with  the 
prayer  of  the  Clergy  of  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire,  for  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bass, 
Bishop-elect  of  the  Churches  in  the  said  States  ;  but,  that 
before  the  said  Bishops  comply  with  the  request  aforesaid,  it 
be  proposed  to  the  Churches  in  the  New-England  States  to 
meet  the  Churches  of  these  States,  with  the  said  three  Bishops, 
in  an  adjourned  Convention,  to  settle  certain  articles  of  union 
and  discipline  among  all  the  churches,  previous  to  such  con- 
secration. 

bth.  Resolved, — That  if  any  difficulty  or  delicacy,  in  respect 
to  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  England,  shall  remain  with 
".he  Right  Rev.  Drs.  White  and  Provoost,  or  either  of  them, 
concerning  their  compliance  with  the  above  request,  this  Con- 
vention will  address  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops,  and  hope 
thereby  to  remove  the  difficulty. 

This  action,  and  the  unanimous  expression  by 
formal  resohition"^  of  confidence  in  the  validity  of 
Bishop  Seabury's  consecration,  led  the  way  to  union. 
The  other  business  of  this  session,  which  continued 

*  We  quote  from  the  Journal  this  important  resolution, 
which  did  away  with  the  unfriendly  action  in  1786,  to  which 
we  have  earlier  referred  : 

"  A  letter  was  also  read  from  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Seabury, 
Bishop  of  the  Church  in  Connecticut,  to  the  Right  Rev.  Dr. 
White,  and  one  from  the  same  gentleman  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Smith. 

"  Upon  reading  the  said  letters,  it  appearing  that  Bishop 
Seabury  lay  under  some  misapprehensions  concerning  an  entry 
in  the  Minutes  of  a  former  Convention,  as  intending  some 
doubt  of  the  validity  of  his  consecration, 

"  Resolved  unanimously, — That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Con- 
vention, that  the  consecration  of  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Seabury 
to  the  Episcopal  office  is  valid." 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  67 

for  tliirteen  dajSj  and  in  which  seven  States  were 
represented  by  seventeen  clergymen  and  sixteen 
laymen,^  consisted  in  the  adoption  of  an  address 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  also  an 
address  to  the  Archbishops  for  their  good  offices  in 
imparting  the  Episcopal  offices  to  the  American 
Church ;  the  adoption  of  Articles  I.,  11.,  lY.,  Y.,YI., 
YII.  of  the  Constitution,  as  proposed  at  the  last 
Convention  as  a  rule  of  conduct  for  the  present 
session,  and  the  postponement  of  the  consideration 
of  the  remaining  articles,  and  the  adoption  of  a 
body  of  Canons.     These  Canons  Ave  give  in  full : 

Canons  for  the  Government  op  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
agreed  on  and  ratified  in  the  General  Convention 
OP  SAID  Church,  held  in  the  City  op  Philadelphia, 
from  the  28th  Day  of  July  to  the  8th  Day  op 
August,  1789,  inclusuve. 

Canon  1. 
In  tliis  Church  there  shall  always  be  three  Orders  in  the 
Ministry,  viz.,  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons. 

Canon  3. 

Every  Bishop  elect,  before  his  consecration,  shall  produce  to 
the  Bishops,  to  whom  he  is  presented  for  that  holy  office,  from 
the  Convention  by  whom  he  is  elected  a  Bishop,  and  from  the 
General  Convention,  or  a  Committee  of  that  body  appointed  to 
act  in  their  recess,  certificates,  respectively  in  the  following 
words,  viz.  : 
Testimony  from  the  Members  of  the  Convention  in  the  State 

from  whence  the  person  is  recommended  for  Consecration. 

We   whose  names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  im- 


*  One  of  the  lay  deputies,  Robert  Andrews,  of  Virginia,  a 
Professor  in  the  College  of  William  and  Mary  at  Williams- 
burg had  received  Holy  Orders,  but  had  relinquished  the 
exercise  of  the  Ministry.    ( Vide  Wliite's  Memoirs,  p.  146.) 


68  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

portant  it  is,  that  the  sacred  office  of  a  Bishop  should  not  be 
unworthily  conferred,  and  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty 
to  bear  testimony  on  this  solemn  occasion  without  partiality  or 
affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  testify,  that  A. 
B.  is  not,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  justly  liable  to  evil  report, 
either  for  error  in  religion  or  for  viciousness  of  life  ;  and  that 
we  do  not  know  or  believe  there  is  any  impediment  or  notable 
crime  for  which  he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to  that  holy 
office.  We  do,  moreover,  jointly  and  severally  declare  that, 
having  personally  known  him  for  three  years  last  past,  we  do 
in  our  consciences  believe  him  to  be  of  such  sufficiency  in 
good  learning,  such  soundness  in  the  faith,  and  of  such  vir- 
tuous and  pure  manners  and  godly  conversation,  that  he  is  apt 
and  meet  to  exercise  the  Office  of  a  Bishop,  to  the  honor  of 
God  and  the  edifying  of  his  Church,  and  to  be  an  wholesome 
example  to  the  flock  of  Christ 

Testimony  from  the  General  Convention. 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  im- 
portant it  is  that  the  sacred  office  of  a  Bishop  should  not  be 
unworthily  conferred,  and  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our 
duty  to  bear  our  testimony  on  this  solemn  occasion  without 
partiality  or  affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God, 
testify  that  A.B.  is  not,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  justly  liable 
to  evil  report  either  for  error  in  religion  or  for  viciousness  of 
life  ;  and  that  we  do  not  know  or  believe  there  is  any  impedi- 
ment or  notable  crime,  on  account  of  which  he  ought  not  to  be 
consecrated  to  that  holy  office,  but  that  he  hath,  as  we  believe, 
led  his  life,  for  the  three  years  last  past,  piously,  soberly,  and 
honestly. 

Canon  3. 

Every  Bishop  in  this  Church  shall,  as  often  as  may  be  con- 
venient, visit  the  churches  within  his  Diocese  or  district,  for 
the  purposes  of  examining  the  state  of  his  Church,  inspecting 
the  behavior  of  the  clergy,  and  administering  the  apostolic 
rite  of  Confirmation. 

Canon  4. 

Deacon's  Orders  shall  not  be  conferred  on  any  person  until 
he  shall  be  twenty-one  years  old,  nor  Priest's  Orders  on  any 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  69 

one  until  he  shall  be  twenty-four  years  old  ;  and,  except  on 
urgent  occasion,  unless  he  hath  been  a  Deacon  one  year.  No 
man  shall  be  consecrated  a  Bishop  of  this  Church  until  he 
shall  be  thirty  years  old. 

Canon  5. 

No  person  shall  be  ordained  either  Deacon  or  Priest,  unless 
he  shall  produce  a  satisfactory  certificate  from  some  Church, 
parish,  or  congregation,  that  he  is  engaged  with  them,  and 
that  they  will  receive  him  as  their  minister  and  allow  him  a 
reasonable  support  ;  or  unless  he  be  engaged  as  a  professor, 
tutor  or  instructor  of  youth,  in  some  college,  academy,  or  gene- 
ral seminary  of  learning,  duly  incorporated  ;  or  unless  the 
Standing  Committee  of  the  Church  in  the  State  for  which  he 
is  to  be  ordained,  shall  certify  to  the  Bishop  their  full  belief 
and  expectation,  that  he  will  be  received  and  settled  as  a  pas- 
tor by  some  one  of  the  vacant  churches  in  that  State. 

Canon  6. 

Every  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  shall  be  recommended  to 
the  Bishop  by  a  Standing  Committee  of  the  Convention  of  the 
State  wherein  he  resides,  which  recommendation  shall  be  sign- 
ed by  the  names  of  a  majority  of  the  Committee,  and  shall  be 
in  the  following  words  : 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  testify  that  A.  B., 
for  the  space  of  three  years  last  past,  hath  lived  piously,  so- 
berly, and  honestly  :  Nor  hath  he  at  any  time,  as  far  as  we 
know  or  believe,  written,  taught,  or  held,  anything  contrary 
to  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
And,  moreover,  we  think  him  a  person  worthy  to  be  admitted 
to  the  sacred  order  of  priest.  In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands.  Dated  the  .  .  .  day  of  .  .  . 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord    .     .     . 

But  before  a  Standing  Committee  of  any  State  shall  proceed 
to  recommend  any  candidate,  as  aforesaid,  to  the  Bishop,  such 
candidate  shall  produce  testimonials  of  his  good  morals  and  or- 
derly conduct  for  three  years  last  past,  from  the  Minister  and 
Vestry  of  the  parish  where  he  has  resided,  or  from  the  Vestry 


70  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

alone  if  tlie  parish  be  vacant — a  publication  of  his  intention  to 

apply  for  Holy  Orders  having  been  previously  made  by  such 

Minister  or  Vestry, 

Canon  7. 

In  every  State  in  which  there  is  no  Standing  Committee, 
Buch  Committee  shall  be  appointed  at  its  next  ensuing  Conven- 
tion ;  and  in  the  mean  time,  every  candidate  for  Holy  Orders 
shall  be  recommended  according  to  the  regulations  or  usage  of 
the  Church  in  each  State,  and  the  requisitions  of  the  Bishop  to 

whom  he  applies. 

Canon  8. 

No  person  shall  be  ordained  in  this  Church  until  he  shall 

have  satisfied  the  Bishop  and  the  two  Presbyters,  by  whom  he 

shall  be  examined,  that  he  is  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the 

New  Testament  in  the  original  Greek,  and  can  give  an  account 

of  his  faith  in  the  Latin  tongue,  either  in  writing  or  otherwise, 

as  may  be  required. 

Canon  9. 

Agreeably  to  the  practice  of  the  primitive  Church,  the  stated 
times  of  Ordination  shall  be  on  the  Sundays  following  the  Em- 
ber weeks,  viz.,  the  Second  Sunday  in  Lent,  the  Feast  of  Tri- 
nity, and  the  Sundays  after  the  Wednesdays  following  the 
fourteenth  day  of  September  and  the  thirteenth  of  December. 

Canon  10. 
No  person,  not  a  member  of  this  Church,  who  shall  profess 
to  be  episcopally  ordained,  shall  be  permitted  to  officiate  there- 
in, until  he  shall  have  exhibited  to  the  Vestry  of  the  Church 
in  which  he  shall  offer  to  officiate,  a  certificate  signed  by  the 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  or  district,  or,  where  there  is  no  Bishop, 
by  three  Clergymen  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Conven- 
tion of  that  State,  that  his  Letters  of  Orders  are  authentic,  and 
given  by  some  Bishop  whose  authority  is  acknowledged  by 
this  Church,  and  also  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  moral  cha- 
racter. 

Signed,  by  order  of  the  Convention, 

WILLIAM  WHITE, 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Common- 
wealth  of  Pennsyhania,  and  Pr cedent  of  the  Convention^ 
Francis  Hopkinson,  Secretary. 


OF   THE   AMERICAX    CHURCH.  71 

During  the  session,  the  amiable  Griffitli  entered 
into  rest.  His  relinquishment  of  the  Episcopate  of 
Virginia,  to  which  he  had  been  elected,  had  been 
communicated  to  the  Convention  at  its  opening  sit- 
ting. The  circumstances  occasioning  this  failure 
on  the  part  of  the  Church  in  Virginia  to  secure  tlie 
consecration  of  her  first  Bishop-elect,  as  they  are 
detailed  in  the  correspondence  of  Bishop  White,"^ 
reveal  painful  proofs  of  the  decline  of  the  Church 
in  this  State. 

At  the  adjourned  Convention,  which  met  on  the 
29th  of  September,  and  continued  in  session  until 
the  16th  of  October,  Bishop  Seaburj,  with  clerical 
deputies  representing  Connecticut,  Massachusetts, 
and  New-Hampshire,  appeared,  and,  after  effecting 
a  modification  of  the  third  article  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, so  as  to  secure  the  right  of  the  bishops,  when 
sitting  as  a  separate  House,  to  originate  and  propose 
acts  for  the  concurrence  of  the  other  House  of  Con- 
vention and  a  negative  on  the  action  of  the  Lower 
House,  acceded  to  the  Constitution,  and  took  their 
seats  as  members  of  the  Convention.  There  being, 
agreeably  to  the  Constitution,  the  number  of  bishops 
requisite  for  the  formation  of  a  separate  House,  the 
two  bishops  present  (Bishop  Provoost  being  absent) 
withdrew  and  organized,  with  Bishop  Seabury  as 
President,  and  the  Pev.  Joseph  Clarkson  as  Secre- 
tary. The  House  of  Deputies  elected  the  Pev.  Dr. 
Smith  as  their  President. 

The  chief  business  of  the  session  was  the  adop- 

*  Among  the  archives  of  the  Church. 


Y2  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

tion  of  a  Liturgy.  No  effort  for  the  acceptance  of 
the  ''  Proposed  Book  "  was  made.  Dr.  Parker,  of 
Massachusetts,  representing  as  he  did  the  general 
sentiment  at  the  Northward,  urged  that  the  Eng- 
lish Prayer  Book  should  be  made  the  ground  of  the 
proceedings,  without  any  reference  to  the  book  ten- 
tatively set  forth  in  1785.  And  although  this 
course  was  not  formally  adopted,  the  resolutions 
adopted  were  so  worded  as  to  imply  that  there  was 
no  book  of  authority  in  existence.  The  latitude  of 
change  this  course  seemed  to  indicate  was  lessened 
by  the  general  disposition  of  the  members  of  the 
Convention  to  vary  the  book  as  little  as  possible 
from  the  English  model. 

The  provision  of  a  Prayer  Book  was  assigned  to 
five  committees-:  one  on  the  Calendar  and  Tables 
of  Lessons,  with  the  Collects,  Epistles,  and  Gospels  ; 
another  on  the  Morning  and  Evening  Service  ;  a 
third  on  the  Litany  and  occasional  prayers  and 
thanksgivings  ;  a  fourth  on  the  order  for  the  admin- 
istration of  the  Holy  Communion  ;  and  a  fifth  to 
report  in  what  manner  the  Psahns  should  be  used. 
The  reports  of  each  committee,  when  adopted,  were 
transmitted  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  from  whence 
they  were  returned  with  amendments.  From  the 
bishops  were  received,  in  the  first  instance,  the  vari- 
ous Ofiices  to  be  adopted  for  use  in  the  American 
Church.  The  alterations,  other  than  those  of  a  po- 
litical nature,  were  mainly  verbal,  together  with  the 
omission  of  repetitions ;  the  addition  of  Selections 
of  Psalms  to  be  used  at  the  discretion  of  the  minis- 
ter ;  an  Office  for  the  Visitation  of  Prisoners,  from 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHUKCH.  73 

the  Irish  Prayer  Book;  a  service  of  Prayer  and 
Thanksgiving  for  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  from  the 
"  Proposed  Book,"  and  an  Order  of  Family  Prayer. 
Besides  these,  Bishop  Seabury  secured  the  restora- 
tion to  the  Consecration  Prayer  of  the  Oblation  and 
Invocation  found  in  King  Edward  YI.'s  First 
Prayer  Book,  and  retained  in  the  Scotch  Office.  In 
this  restoration,  he  gained  for  the  American  Church 
a  closer  conformity  in  her  Eucharistic  office  to  the 
primitive  forms,  and  fully  answered  the  require- 
ment of  the  "  Concordat "  he  had  signed  on  his  con- 
secration, binding  him  to  an  effort  to  bring  his 
Church  in  accord  with  the  Scottish  Church  in  this 
matter.  The  deliberations  were  conducted  with 
great  harmony,  and  the  result  was  the  setting  forth 
of  the  present  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  to  be  in  use 
from  the  1st  of  October,  1790.  The  adoption  of  tlie 
XXXIX  Articles  of  Peligion  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland, excepting  the  XXXYIth  and  XXXYIIth, 
was  proposed  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  but  the 
consideration  of  this  matter  was  iinally  referred 
to  a  subsequent  Convention.  The  Psalms  in  metre, 
and  twenty-seven  hymns,  the  foundation  of  our  late 
hymnal,  were  also  set  forth  ;  the  canons  were  in- 
creased by  the  enactment  of  eight,  requiring  the 
exclusive  use  of  the  Prayer  Book  as  now  establish- 
ed, stating  the  duty  of  ministers  in  regard  to  Epis- 
copal visitations,  directing  the  censure  of  notorious 
crimes  and  scandals,  enforcing  the  sober  conversa- 
tion required  in  ministers,  providing  for  the  duo 
celebration  of  Sundays,  the  preparation  of  a  regular 
list  of  the  ministers  of  the  Church,  and  the  giving 


74  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

notice  of  the  induction  and  dismission  of  ministers.' 
The  union  of  the  Churches  having  been  thus  hap- 
pily effected,  and  the  validity  of  Bishop  Seabury's 
consecration  fully  and  unanimously  endorsed  by 
the  Convention,  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Bass,  the 
Bishop-elect  of  Massachusetts,  was  not  pressed  at 
this  time,  and  another  year  witnessed  the  comple- 
tion of  the  canonical  number  of  bishops  in  the  An- 
glican line,  by  the  consecration  in  England  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Madison  for  Virginia,  who,  with  Bishops 
White  and  Provoost,  and  the  Bishop  of  Connecti- 
cut, united  in  the  consecration  of  Dr.  Claggett  at 
the  next  Convention  in  New- York,  in  1792,  thus 
accomplishing  the  union  of  the  two  lines  of  succes- 
sion, which  had  been  the  object  sought  by  the  clergy 
of  Massachusetts  and  New-Hampshire  in  the  elec- 
tion of  Dr.  Bass. 

The  change  in  the  Constitution  which  secured 
the  adhesion  of  Seabury  and  the  churchmen  of  New- 
England  was  as  follows : 

Art.  3.  The  Bishops  of  this  Church,  when  there  shall  be 
three  or  more,  shall,  whenever  General  Conventions  are  held, 
form  a  separate  House,  with  a  right  to  originate  and  propose 
acts  for  the  concurrence  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  composed 
of  Clergy  and  Laity  ;  and  when  any  proposed  act  shall  have 
passed  the  House  of  Deputies,  the  same  shall  be  transmitted  to 
the  House  of  Bishops,  who  shall  have  a  negative  thereupon, 
unless  adhered  to  by  four-fifths  of  the  other  House  :  and  all 
acts  of  the  Convention  shall  be  authenticated  by  both  Houses. 
And,  in  all  cases,  the  House  of  Bishops  shall  signify  to  the 
Convention  their  approbation  or  disapprobation,  the  latter, 
with  their  reasons  in  writing,  within  three  days  after  the  pro- 
posed act  shall  have  l)een  reported  to  them  for  concurrence  ; 
and,  in  failure  thereof,  it  shall  have  the  operation  of  a  law. 
But  until  there  shall  be  three  or  more  Bishops,  as  aforesaid. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  VO 

any  Bishop  attending  a  General  Convention,  shall  be  a  mem- 
ber ex  officio,  and  shall  vote  with  the  Clerical  Deputies  of  the 
State  to  which  he  belongs  :  and  a  Bishop  shall  then  preside. 

This  action,  as  we  learn  from  Bishop  White,* 
would  have  been  more  decided,  and  the  House  of 
Bishops  invested  with  a  full  negative  on  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  House  of  Deputies,  but  for  the  op- 
position of  a  lay  deputy  from  Yirginia.  As  it  was,  a 
resolution  was  adopted — 

That  it  be  made  known  to  the  several  State  Conventions,  that 
it  is  proposed  to  consider  and  determine,  in  the  next  General 
Convention,  on  the  propriety  of  investing  the  House  of  Bishops 
with  a  full  negative  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  other  House. 

In  this  compromise  the  New-England  deputies 
finally  acquiesced,  and  a  single  sheet  of  foolscap, 
preserved  among  the  archives  of  the  Church,  which 
we  give  below,  is  the  record  of  the  formal  union  of 
the  separated  Churches  in  the  land  : 

We  do  hereby  agree  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  as 
modified  this  Day  in  the  Convention,  2d  October,  1789. 

Samuel  Seabury,  D.D.,  Bp., 
Epl.  Ch'ch  Connect. 
Connecticut. 
Abraham  Jarvis,  A.M., 
Rector  of  Christ's  Church,  Middletoun. 

Bel  A  Hubbard,  A.M., 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New  Haven. 
Samuel  Parker,  D.D. 
Rect^  Trin^y  Church,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  &   Clerical 
Deputy  for  Massachusetts  &  New  Hampshire.\ 

*  Memoirs,  pp.  145,  146. 

f  Copied  verbatim  et  literatim  from  the  original  ms.  in  the 
keeping  of  the  author. 


76  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

One  measure,  quite  dear  to  Bishop  Seabury's 
heart,  was  rejected.  It  was  the  permissory  use  of 
the  Athanasian  Creed.  This  was  agreed  to  by  the 
House  of  Bishops,  but  negatived  in  the  House  of 
Deputies,  who,  even  after  conference  with  the 
Bishoj)s,  '^  would  not  allow  of  the  Creed  in  any 
shape."*  Had  its  use  been  allowed,  it  was  the 
avowed  intention  of  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania 
never  to  read  it.  The  view  of  his  brother  of  Con- 
necticut is  concisely  and  clearly  stated  in  a  letter 
addressed  by  him  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Parker,  after  the 
Convention  rose : 


With  regard  to  tlie  propriety  of  reading  the  Athanasian 
Creed,  I  never  was  fully  convinced.  With  regard  to  the  im- 
propriety of  banishing  it  out  of  the  Prayer  Book,  I  am  clear  ; 
and  I  look  upon  it,  that  those  gentlemen  who  rigidly  insisted 
upon  its  being  read  as  usual,  and  those  who  insisted  on  its 
being  thrown  out,  both  acted  from  the  same  uncandid,  uncom- 
plying temper.  They  seemed  to  me  to  have  aimed  at  forcing 
their  own  opinion  on  their  brethren.  And  I  do  hope,  though 
possibly  I  hope  in  vain,  that  Christian  charity  and  love  of 
union  will  some  time  bring  that  Creed  into  this  book,  were  it 
only  to  stand  as  articles  of  faith  stand,  and  to  show  that  we 
do  not  renounce  the  Catholic  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  as  held 
by  the  Western  Church,  f 

A  misunderstanding  between  the  two  Houses, 
w^ith  respect  to  the  mode  of  printing  the  clause  in 
the  Apostles'  Creed,  "  He  descended  into  Hell," 
gave  occasion  for  uneasiness  among  the  clergy  at 
the  ]^orth ;  but  at  the  next  General  Convention,  in 

*  Vide  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  pp.  149,  150. 
f  The  original  of  this  interesting  letter  is  in  the  poaseesionof 
the  author.     It  is  dated  December  29.  1790. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  77 

1792,  the  matter  was  definitely  settled  as  the  House 
of  Bishops  originally  intended,  and  as  it  now  stands. 
In  consequence  of  this  misunderstanding,  this  clause 
appeared  in  the  first  edition  of  the  new  Prayer 
Book  in  italic  letters,  and  between  parenthetical 
marks. 

It  is  to  be  noted  as  a  part  of  the  history  of  the 
American  Prayer  Book  and  of  this  Convention,  that 
the  expedient  of  substituting  the  "  Selections  of 
Psalms  "  for  the  Psalter  did  not  have  the  approval 
of  the  Bishops.  Bishop  White  suggested,  instead, 
the  plan  of  giving  "  the  ofiiciating  minister  the  lib- 
erty to  select  psalms  at  his  discretion,"  and  urged 
this  course  on  the  ground  that  it  would  avoid  "  the 
practice  of  reading  the  psalms,  without  any  regard 
to  their  suitableness  to  the  general  circumstances 
and  state  of  mind  of  a  mixed  congregation,"  while 
another  argument  was,  "  that  the  number  and 
length  of  the  psalms  depending  on  the  choice  of  the 
minister,  there  would  be  great  encouragement  to 
the  introduction  of  the  practice  of  singing  this  part 
of  the  service,  instead  of  repeating  the  verses  by 
the  minister  and  the  clerk  alternately."*  But, 
though  some  of  the  omissions  were  "  capricious,"  and 
the  selections  '^  made  with  too  little  deliberation," 
the  persistency  of  the  House  of  Deputies  prevailed, 
and  the  "  Selections  of  Psalms  "  were  allowed. 

*  Memoirs,  p.  152. 


73  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 


THE    CONTENTION    OF   1792. 

Nine  States  were  represented  in  the  Convention 
which  met  in  Trinity  Church,  New- York,  on  the 
11th  of  September,  1792.  Five  Bishops,  with  nine- 
teen clerical  and  fourteen  lay  deputies,  were  in  at- 
tendance, and  the  session  lasted  seven  days.  On 
Monday,  September  17th,  the  Rev.  Thomas  John 
Claggett,  D.D.,  w^as  consecrated  Bishop  of  Mary- 
land, the  sermon  on  that  interesting  occasion,  the 
first  American  Consecration,  being  delivered  by  the 
Eev.  Dr.  William  Smith,  whose  election  to  the  same 
Episcopate  the  iirst  Convention  of  1786  had  refus- 
ed to  confirm.  Bishop  Provoost,  who,  through  the 
courtesy  of  Bishop  Seabury,  had  become  Presiding 
Bishop,  was  the  consecrator,  assisted  by  the  Bishop 
of  Connecticut  and  Ehode  Island,  and  the  Bishops 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  At  this  consecra- 
tion, the  succession,  as  transmitted  through  the  Scot- 
tish and  English  lines,  was  united,  and  through  tlie 
first  Bishop  of  Maryland,  every  subsequent  Ameri- 
can Bishop  can  trace  his  Episcopal  lineage  to  the 
first  American  prelate. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Smith  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent of  the  House  of  Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  John 
Bisset,  secretary.  The  procediugs  were  opened 
with  a  sermon  by  Bishop  Seabury.  Lay  deputies" 
from  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  appeared  for 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  79 

the  first  time  at  this  session,  and  the  representatives 
of  the  Church  in  the  last-mentioned  State  formally 
acceded  to  the  Constitution  of  the  general  Church. 
The  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution,  giving 
the  House  of  Bishops  a  negative  upon  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  House  of  Deputies  was  rejected,  but 
the  proposition  was  renewed  for  action  at  the  next 
session.  The  consideration  of  the  Articles  of  Ee- 
ligion  was  postponed.  The  Ordinal  was  set  forth, 
and  several  new  canons,  evidently  growing  out  of 
the  exigencies  of  the  time,  and  relating  mainly  to 
the  discipline  of  the  clergy,  were  enacted.  A  joint 
committee  was  aj)pointed  to  compare  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  as  published  in  1790,  mth  the  ori- 
ginal acts  of  the  Convention  of  1789,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  authentic  editions  of  the  book  in  the  fu- 
ture. A  joint  committee  was  also  appointed  "  for 
prej^aring  a  plan  of  supporting  missionaries  to 
preach  the  gospel  on  the  frontiers  of  the  United 
States."  Copies  of  the  Jom'nal  were  ordered  to  be 
sent  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  for  the  use  of 
the  English  bishops.  In  the  House  of  Bishops,  the 
rule  adopted  in  1789,  providing  for  the  presidency 
according  to  seniority  of  consecration,  was  changed, 
and  "  rotation,  beginning  from  the  Xorth,"  substi- 
tuted. The  Bishop  of  Yirginia,  as  we  learn  from 
Bishop  TThite, — the  record  being  silent  as  to  the 
matter, — offered  a  proposition  tending  to  a  compre- 
hension of  the  Methodist  societies  in  the  Church,  a 
subject  which  had  earlier  occasioned  a  correspondence 
between  the  Eev.  Thomas  Coke,  LL.D.,  one  of  the 
''  superintendents"    of   that  body  in   America,  and 


80  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

the  Bishops  of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania.* 
This  proposition,  as  agreed  to  by  the  House  of 
Bishops,  was  as  follows  : 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  ever  bearing  in  mind  the  sacred  obligation  which  at- 
tends all  the  followers  of  Christ,  to  avoid  divisions  among 
themselves  ;  and  anxious  to  promote  that  union  for  which  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  so  earnestly  prayed  ;  do  hereby  declare  to 
the  Christian  world,  that,  uninfluenced  by  any  other  considera- 
tions than  those  of  duty  as  Christians,  and  an  earnest  desire 
for  the  prosperity  of  pure  Christianity,  and  the  furtherance  of 
our  holy  religion,  -they  are  ready  and  willing  to  unite  and 
form  one  body  with  any  religious  society,  which  shall  be  influ- 
enced by  tlie  same  Catholic  spirit.  And  in  order  that  this 
Christian  end  may  be  the  more  easily  effected,  they  further  de- 
clare, that  all  things  in  which  the  great  essentials  of  Christian- 
ity and  the  characteristic  principles  of  their  Church  are  not 
concerned,  they  are  willing  to  leave  to  future  discussion  ; 
being  ready  to  alter  or  modify  those  points  which,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  are  subject  to  human 
alteration.  And  it  is  hereby  recommended  to  tlie  State  conven- 
tions, to  adopt  such  measures  or  propose  such  conferences  with 
Christians  of  other  denominations,  as  to  themselves  may  be 
Jhought  most  prudent  ;  and  report  accordingly  to  the  ensuing 
General  Convention.f 

This  proposition  was  communicated  to  the  House 
of  Deputies,  but,  although  a  few  gentlemen  who 
were  cognizant  of  the  correspondence  between  Dr. 
Coke  and  Bishop  White  favored  its  consideration, 
it  was  generally  regarded  as  "  preposterous,"  and 
as  "  tending  to  produce  distrust    of  the  stability  of 


*  The  original  of  Dr.  Coke's  letter  to  Bishop  White  is  pre- 
served among  the  papers  belonging  to  the  General  Convention, 
in  the  keeping  of  the  author. 

f  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  pp.  167,  168. 


OF  THE  AMElllCAN   CHURCH.  8i 

the  system  of  tlie  Episcopal  Clmrcli,  without  the 
least  prospect  of  embracing  any  other  religious 
body."  Agreeably  to  leave  granted  "  as  a  matter 
of  indulgence,"  the  Bishops  withdrew  the  proposi- 
tion, which,  however,  becomes  the  earliest  recorded 
document  bearing  upon  the  questions  of  Church 
unity  and  comprehension,  which  have  subsequently 
from  time  to  time  agitated  the  American  Church. 

More  successful  were  the  measures  proposed  for 
evangelizing  the  West.  We  give  in  full,  as  the 
first  missionary  paper  of  the  Church  in  its  indepen- 
dent organization, — 

An  Act  of  the  General  Convention,  for  supporting  Missionaries 
to  preach  the  Gospel  on  the  frontiers  of  the  United  States. 

1.  Resolved, — That  it  be  recommended  to  the  ministers  of 
this  Church  to  preach  a  sermon  in  each  of  the  churches  under 
their  care,  on  the  first  Sunday  of  September  in  every  year  ; 
and,  if  that  day  should  not  be  adapted  to  tlie  purpose,  then  on 
such  other  Sunday  as  the  minister  and  vestry  or  trustees  of  the 
congregation  shall  appoint,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  money 
in  order  to  carry  into  effect  this  charitable  design. 

2.  That  the  money  so  collected  be  entered  in  a  record  to  be 
kept  by  the  vestries  or  trustees  of  each  congregaticm  ;  and  by 
the  minister  and  church  wardens  or  trustees  be  delivered  to  a 
treasurer  appointed  by  each  State  Convention,  and  by  him 
transmitted  to  a  treasurer  who  shall  be  appointed  as  hereinaf- 
ter directed. 

3.  That  such  missionaries  as  may  be  employed  by  this 
Church,  be  authorized  to  make  collections  of  money  from  such 
congregations  on  the  frontiers  as  may  contribute,  and  render 
an  accurate  account  to  the  bishop  of  this  Church  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Standing  Committee  to  be  appointed 
by  this  Convention,  of  the  sums  thus  collected. 

4.  That  the  bishop  of  this  Church  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
said  Standing  Committee,  frame  an  address  to  the  members  of 
this  Church,  recommending  this  charitable  design  to  their  par- 


82  THE   GfiNERAL   CONVENTION 

ticular  attention,  which  address  shall  be  read  by  every  minis- 
ter on  the  day  appointed  for  the  collection. 

5.  That  the  bishop  of  this  Church  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
said  Standing  Committee,  have  authority  to  appoint  a  secreta- 
ry and  a  treasurer,  the  first  to  carry  on  the  correspondence,  and 
the  other  to  keep  the  accounts  and  the  moneys  of  the  institu- 
tion. 

6.  That  when  it  shall  appear  to  the  bishop  of  this  Church  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  Standing  Committee  to  be  appointed  as 
aforesaid,  that  sufficient  funds  have  been  provided  for  the  above 
purpose,  they  shall  then  employ  such  missionaries,  allow  such 
salaries,  and  make  such  arrangements,  as  to  them  shall  seem 
best,  reporting  regularly  their  proceedings  to  each  General 
Convention. 

The  changes  in  the  ''  Ordinal"  from  the  English 
Offices  were  prepared  by  the  Bishops.  With  refe- 
rence to  the  nature  of  these  alterations,  Bishop 
White  informs  us  that  "  There  was  no  material 
difference  of  opinion,  except  in  regard  to  the  words 
used  by  the  Bishop  at  the  ordination  of  Priests — ■ 
'  Keceive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost,'  and  ^  Whose  sins 
thou  dost  forgive,  they  are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins 
thou  dost  retain,  they  are  retained.'  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  who  alone  was  tenacious  of  tliis  form,  consent- 
ed at  last,  with  great  reluctance,  to  allow  the  alter- 
native of  another  as  it  now  stands."* 

In  postponing  the  consideration  of  the  XXXIX 
Articles  to  a  future  convention,  the  House  of  Depu- 
ties were  opposed  to  the  House  of  Bishops.  Of  tlie 
'  Bishops,  as  Bishop  White  informs  us,  "  Seabury, 
White,  and  Claggett  were  in  faNor  of  the  adoption 
of  Articles  of  Religion ;  Madison  was  opposed  to 
such  a  course,  and  Provoost,  who,  as  President,  was 

*  Memoirs,  p.  164. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  83 

not  called  upon  to  vote  on  the  question,  was  under- 
stood to  be  in  sympathy  with  the  Bishop  of  Virgi- 
nia. The  unwillingness  of  the  Deputies  to  consider 
the  subject,  however,  caused  its  postponement  in 
spite  of  the  majority  of  the  Bishops  in  its  favor."* 

Notice  of  the  accession  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of 
the  Church  of  North-Carolina  to  the  general  Con- 
stitution was  received  by  letter  and  placed  on  file ; 
and  a  note  appended  to  the  Journal  informs  us  that 
a  clerical  deputy  from  that  State,  the  Kev.  J.  L. 
Wilson,  detained  by  contrary  winds,  did  not  reach 
New-York  until  after  the  Convention  had  closed  its 
session. 

Agreeably  to  the  requirement  of  a  canon  adopted 
at  the  last  Convention,  a  list  of  the  clergy  of  the 
Church  is  printed  in  the  Appendix  to  the  JournaL 
Including  the  Bishops,  the  number  given  is  one 
hundred  and  eighty-four,  no  lists  having  been  hand- 
ed in  from  New-Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  and 
there  being  no  mention  of  the  number  of  clergy- 
men at  that  time  in  North-Carolina  and  on  the  wes- 
tern frontiers.  With  every  allowance  there  could 
not  have  been  more  than  two  hundred, — the  repre- 
sentatives of  nearly  two  thousand  who,  with  Eng- 
lish orders,  had  labored  on  the  American  continent 
since  its  earliest  attempted  settlement  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years  before. 


*  Memoirs,  pp.  166, 167. 


84:  THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONTENTION   OF   1795. 

No  clerical  or  lay  deputies  from  New-England 
were  in  attendance  upon  the  Convention  of  1795,  \ 
which  met  in  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  on  the 
8th  of  September,  and  continued  in  session  for  ten 
days.  Intercourse  between  New- York  and  Phila- 
delphia had  been  suspended  by  public  authority, 
some  time  before  the  meeting  of  the  Convention, 
in  consequence  of  the  prevailing  epidemic,  and  but 
seven  States  were  represented  by  sixteen  clergymen 
and  eight  laymen.  The  Eev.  Dr.  William  Smith, 
D.D.,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  elected  President  of 
the  House  of  Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  James  Aber- 
crombie,  Secretary.  The  Bishop  of  New-York 
preached  the  opening  sermon.  Testimonials  in  fa- 
vor of  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters, 
LL.D.,  to  the  Episcopate  of  Vermont  were  present- 
ed, but  the  request  of  the  Convention  of  that  State 
was  refused,  as  Vermont  had  not  acceded  to  the 
Constitution  of  tlie  Chui-ch.  Had  not  this  sufficient 
reason  existed,  others  would  doubtless  have  hinder- 
ed the  success  of  such  an  application.  Besides 
"  some  personal  circumstances,  which  prevented  the 
paying  of  much  respect  to  the  solicitation,"*  the 
fact  that  there  was  but  one  clergyman  in  the  State, 
and  he  but  temporarily,  was  sufficient  objection,  and 
the  sole  result  of  the  request  was  the  enactment  of 

*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  174. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH. 


85 


a  canon  providing  that  the  Church  in  a  State  shall 
not  be  entitled  to  a  resident  Bishop  unless  there 
shall  be  at  least  six  presbyters  residing  and  officiat- 
ing therein.  Another  canon,  growing  out  of  an  ex- 
isting abuse,  was  enacted,  forbidding  the  imion  of 
a  congregation  in  one  diocese  with  the  Church  in 
any  other  diocese. 

At  this  Convention  South-Carolina,  which  at  the 
first  had  entered  into  the  general  union  of    the 
Churches  on   condition  that  no  Bishop  should  be 
imposed  upon  the  State,  applied  for  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  Kev.  Eobert  Smith,  D.D.,  to  the  Epis- 
copate.    There  was  reason  to  fear  that  this  request 
grew  out  of  a  desire  and,  in  fact,  a  plan  for  seced- 
ing   from    the    general    Church  when    once    the 
power  of  conferring  orders  had  been  secured  in  the 
consecration  of  its  Bishop.     At  least  this  purpose 
was  expressly  avowed  in  a  circular  letter  addressed 
to  the  members  of  the  Church  in  South-Carolina, 
by  "  a  select  Committee  of  the  United  Episcopal 
Churches   in  this   State."       This   circular,   which 
appears  to  have  been  the  composition  of  Henry 
Purcell,  D.D.,  assigned  as  the  ground  of  this  proba- 
ble "  secession  of  this  State  and  Virginia  from  the 
General  Association,"    the    "  absolute    negative" 
which  it  was  feared  would,  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
Eastern  States,  be  given  to  the  House  of  Bishops. 
But  it  was  found  on  inquiry  that  the  Convention 
had  not  adopted  the  principles  of  this  ''  wretched 
production,"  and  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop- 
elect  of  South-Carolina  tool?  place  on  Sunday,  the 
13th  of  September. 


86  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

But  Dr.  Purcell,  in  addition  to  his  connection 
with  the  discreditable  circular  already  referred  to, 
had  published  a  "  licentious  pamphlet "  full  of 
"  personal  abuse,"  "  principally  levelled  at  Bishop 
Seabury"  on  the  ground  of  "  his  supposed  author- 
ship of  a  printed  defense  of  the  Episcopal  nega- 
tive." This  paper  was  in  fact  written  and  ac- 
knowledged by  another  divine ;  and  on  Dr.  Pur- 
cell's  presentation  of  the  testimonials  of  Dr.  Robert 
Smith,  as  we  learn  from  the  Journal — 

The  attention  cf  the  house  was  called  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Andrews  to  the  consideration  of  a  pamphlet  lately  published, 
entitled,  "  Strictures  on  the  Love  of  Power  in  the  Prelacy,  by 
a  Member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Association  in  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,"  which  he  declared  to  be  a  virulent 
attack  upon  the  doctrines  and  discipline  of  our  Church,  and  a 
libel  against  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  which  was  alleged  to 
be  written  by  a  member  of  this  house. 

Resolved, — That  it  be  the  order  of  the  day  for  Monday  next, 
that  the  house,  in  Committee  of  the  whole,  enter  upon  the 
investigation  of  this  charge. 

After  debate,  the  House  resolved  that  the  pam- 
phlet contained  "  very  offensive  and  censurable 
matter,"  and  it  was  only  on  the  presentation  of  a 
written  apology  in  which  he  professed  "  sorrow  for 
the  publication,"  and  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
the  Bishops,  that  Dr.  Purcell  escaped  expulsion  from 
the  House.  His  subsequent  conduct  gave  ample 
evidence  that  his  ''  professed  penitence  was  insin- 
cere, although  it  had  been  accompanied  by  a  profu- 
sion of  tears."*     The  exposure  of  his  conduct  had 

*  Bishop  White,  Memoirs,  pp.  175,  17& 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  S7 

been  mainly  due  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Andrews,  of  Plii- 
ladelpliia,  and  on  the  rising  of  the  Convention  the 
pugnacious  Purcell,  clergyman  though  he  was, 
challenged  Dr.  Andrews  to  mortal  combat,  and  was 
consequently  bound  over  before  the  civil  courts  to 
keep  the  peace.  The  depositions  and  documents 
concerning  this  shameful  affair  are  preserved  among 
the  papers  of  Bishop  White,  and  that  amiable  pre- 
late seems  to  have  been  roused  to  an  unusual  nidig- 
nation  towards  the  offender,  who  was  shielded  from 
the  punishment  he  richly  merited  by  the  friendship 
of  his  Bishop  and  the  support  of  his  brethren  at 

the  South. 

One  decision  in  connection  wdth  this  unhappy 
affair  requires  notice  as  establishing  an  important 
precedent.  To  quote  the  words  of  Bishop  White, 
"  The  termination  of  this  business,  although  pressed 
by  the  Bishops,  was  not  acquiesced  in  without  con- 
siderable opposition ;  and,  to  the  last,  three  very 
respectable  lay  gentlemen,  who  were  of  a  remark- 
ably conciliatory  character,  pressed  for  permission 
to  enter  their  protest.  It  was  not  granted  ;  and  as 
this  has  been  the  only  instance  in  which  the  ques- 
tion of  a  right  to  protest  has  undergone  discussion, 
the  recording  of  a  denial  of  the  right  falls  in  with 
the  design  of  the  present  work."* 

The  Church  in  North-Carolina  had  elected  to  the 
Episcopate  a  most  worthy  clergyman,  the  Rev. 
Charles  Pettigrew,  and  the  testimonials  of  this 
gentleman  were  laid  before  the  Convention;  but 

*  Memoirs,  p.  175. 


88  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTIOX 

owing  to  the  interruption  of  travel  occasioned  Ly  a 
prevailing  epidemic,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pettigrew  found 
liimself  unable  to  reach  Philadelphia  in  time  for 
the  Convention,  and  returned  to  his  home  without 
accomplishing  the  end  desired. 

The  Bishops  expressed  their  content  with  the 
legislation  given  by  Art.  III.  of  the  Constitution 
without  the  "  absolute  negative."  A  canon  em- 
powering the  Bishops  respectively  to  "  compose  a 
form  of  prayer  or  thanksgiving  for  extraordinary 
occasions"  was  adopted  ;  and  legislation  respecting 
the  preparatory  exercises  of  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry ;  and  with  reference  to  parochial  boundaries  was 
enacted.  The  third,  fourth,  sixth  and  seventh  canons 
of  1789,  and  the  fourth  and  sixth  canons  of  1792 
were  repealed,  and  in  the  stead  of  each  new  canons 
were  adopted.  The  churches  in  the  several  States 
were  called  upon  to  send  deputies  to  the  next  Con- 
vention without  fail,  that  further  postponement  of 
the  consideration  of  the  Articles  might  be  avoided. 
The  care  of  the  missionary  work  was  relegated  to 
the  State  Conventions  ;  and  a  joint  committee  was 
appointed  to  prepare  a  course  of  study  for  candi- 
dates for  Holy  Orders.  The  clergy  list  appended 
to  the  Journal  had  increased  to  upwards  of  two 
hundred  names. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  89 


THE   CONVENTION  OF    1799. 

The  prevalence  of  epidemic  disease  prevented 
the  Convention  from  assembling  in  Philadelphia 
in  September,  1798.  The  Bishops,  agreeably 
to  a  power  invested  in  them  when  request- 
ed by  the  Standing  Committee,  convened  a  Spe- 
cial Convention,  in  place  of  the  triennial  meet- 
ing, on  the  11th  of  June  of  the  following  year. 
Eight  States,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Con- 
necticut, New-York,  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  and  Virginia,  were  represented  by  nine- 
teen clerical  and  ten  lay  deputies.  The  officers  of 
the  last  session  were  re-elected  in  the  House  of 
Deputies.  There  was  no  opening  sermon.  Since 
the  last  Convention  Bishop  Seabury  had  entered 
into  rest,  and  the  Rev.  Abraham  Jarvis,  D.D.,  had 
been  consecrated  in  his  stead.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Ed- 
ward Bass  had  been  a  second  time  elected  to  the 
Episcopate  of  Massachusetts,  and  had  received  con- 
secration. At  this  session,  which  continued  for 
eight  days,  the  testimonials  of  the  Rev.  Uzal 
Ogden,  D.D.,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  Episco- 
pate of  New-Jersey,  were  presented  for  coniirma- 
tion.  The  question  being  raised  ''  wdiether  all  the 
priests  who  voted  in  the  election  were  so  qualified 
as  to  constitute  them  a  majority  of  the  resident  and 
officiating  priests  in  the  said  State  according  to  the 
meaning  of  the  canon,"  this  objection  was  made 
the  ostensible  ground  for  suspending  action.  Bishop 
White  reveals  '^  a  more  important  reason   at  the 


90  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

bottom  of  the  objection  made."*  Dr.  Ogdeii  ''  was 
considered  by  his  brethren  generally  as  being  more 
attached  to  the  doctrines  and  the  practices  obtain- 
ing in  some  other  churches  than  to  those  of  his 
own."f 

A  proposed  alteration  in  the  Constitution,  to  the 
effect  that  when  the  Church  was  not  represented 
in  both  Orders  by  a  majority  of  the  States, 
the  votes  should  be  given  by  States  without  re- 
gard to  Orders,  was  defeated.  A  proposition  to 
substitute  a  quinquennial  meeting  of  the  Conven- 
tion for  a  triennial,  involving  of  course  a  change 
in  Article  I.  of  the  Constitution,  was  laid  over 
for  consideration  at  the  next  session.  Canons,  of 
the  mode  of  calling  special  meetings ;  of  General 
Conventions  ;  of  consecrations  during  the  recess  of 
General  Convention ;  explanatory  of  the  term 
"  regularly  officiating  and  resident  minister ;"  and 
repealing  in  part  Canon  4  of  1795  concerning  the 
learning  of  those  to  be  ordained,  were  enacted.  A 
Form  of  Consecration  of  a  church  or  chapel  was 
adopted  ;  a  prayer  was  set  forth  to  be  used  at 
meetings  of  the  Convention  ;  and  the  following 
action  was  taken  respecting  tlie  Articles  of  Reli- 
gion by  the  House  of  Deputies^  and  printed  as  an 
Appendix  to  the  Journal  of  that  House  : 

Resolved  unanimously , — That  on  account  of  the  advanced 
period  of  the  present  Session,  and  the  thinness  of  the  Conven- 
tion, the  consideration  of  the  Articles,  now  reported  and  read, 
be  postponed  ;  and  that  the  Secretary  transcribe  the  Articles 

♦  Memoirs,  p.  178.  f  Ibid. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  91 

into  tlie  Journal  of  this  Convention,  to  lie  over  for  the  consi- 
deration of  the  next  General  Convention. 

The  Articles  referred  to  are  as  follow. 

I.  Of  Faith  in  the  Holy  Trinity. 

There  is  but  one  living  and  true  God,  everlasting"  ;  of  infinite 
power,  wisdom,  and  goodness  ;  the  maker  and  preserver  of  all 
things,  visible  and  invisible.  And  in  the  unity  of  this  God- 
head there  are  three  persons — the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  our  Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier, 

n.  Of  the  Holy  Scriptuke, 

Holy  Scripture  containeth  all  things  necessary  to  salvation  ; 
so  that  whatsoever  is  not  read  therein,  and  can  not  be  proved 
thereby,  is  not  to  be  received  as  an  article  of  faith,  nor  deemed 
necessary  to  salvation. 

By  Holy  Scripture,  we  understand  the  canonical  books  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament. 

THE  NAMES  AND   NUMBER   OF  THE  CANONICAL   BOOKS 
IN  THE  OLD  TESTAMENT. 


1.  Genesis                           having  50 

21.  Ecclesiastes 

having 

12 

2.  Exodus 

(( 

40 

22.  The  Song  of  Solomon    " 

8 

3.  Leviticus 

" 

27 

23.  Isaiah 

" 

66 

4.  Numbers 

«' 

36 

24.  Jeremiah 

« 

52 

5.  Deuteronomy 

« 

34 

25.  Lamentations 

<( 

5 

6.  Joshua 

it 

24 

26.  Ezekicl 

" 

48 

7.  Judges 

(( 

21 

27.  Daniel 

" 

12 

8.  Ruth 

»« 

4 

28.  Hosea 

" 

14 

9.  The  1st  Book  of  Samuel 

" 

31 

29.  Joel 

*'• 

3 

10.  The  2d  Book  of  Samuel 

" 

24 

30.  Amos 

" 

9 

11.  The  l8t  Book  of  Kings 

" 

23 

31.  Obadiah 

a 

1 

12.  The2d  Book  of  Kings 

" 

25 

32.  Jonah 

" 

4 

13.  The  1st  Book  of  Chronicles 

29 

33.  Micah 

" 

T 

14.  Second  Book  of  Chronicles 

36 

.34.  Nahum 

" 

3 

15.  Ezra 

10 

35.  Habakkuk 

i< 

3 

16.  Nehemiah 

13 

36.  Zephaniah 

" 

3 

17.  The  Book  of  Esther 

10 

37.  Haggai 

*' 

2 

18.  The  Book  of  Job 

42 

3S.  Zechariah 

u 

14 

19.  The  Psalms 

150 

39.  Malachi 

i« 

4 

20.  The  Proverbs 

31 

92  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 


CANONICAL  BOOKS  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

CHAPS.  CHAPS. 

1.  St.  Matthew                     having  23  15.1st  Epistle  to  Timotliy  having  « 

2.  St.  Mark                               "  16  1(1.  2d  Epistle  to  Timothy  "  4 

3.  St.  Luke                               "  24  IT.  Epistle  to  Titus  "  3 

4.  St.  John                               •'  21  18.  Epistle  to  Philemon  "  1 

5.  The  Acts  of  the  Apostles  "  23  19.  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  "  13 

6.  Epistle  to  the  Romans       "  16  20.  Epistle  of  St.  James  *'  5 

7.  1st  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  16  21.  1st  Epistle  of  St.  Peter  "  5 

8.  2d  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  13  22.  2d  Epistle  of  St.  Peter  "  3 

9.  Epistle  to  the  Galatians    "  5  23.  Ist  Epistle  of  St.  John  "  5 

10.  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians    "         6  24.  2d  Epistle  of  St.  John    "  1 

11.  Epistle  to  the  Philipians    "         4  25.  3d  Epistle  of  St.  John    "  1 

12.  Epistle  to  the  Colossians  "         4  26.  Epistle  of  St.  Judc          "  1 

13.  1st  Epistle  to  the  Thessalonians  5  27.  Revelation  of  St.  John,  the 

14.  2d  Epistle  to  the  Thessalonians  3                  Divine                          "  22 

The  Apocryplial  books  are  read  by  tlie  Church,  for  example 
of  life  and  instruction  of  manners,  not  for  the  establishment 
of  discipline  or  doctrine. 


III.  Of  the  Old  and  New  Testament. 

There  is  a  perfect  harmony  and  accordance  between  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  ;  for  in  both,  "  Pardon  of  sin  and  everlast- 
ing life  are  offered  to  mankind  through  Christ,  who  is  the  only 
mediator  between  God  and  man  ;"  and  although  Christians  are 
not  bound  to  obey  the  civil  and  ceremonial  precepts,  yet  are 
they  obliged  to  observe  all  the  moral  commandments  of  the 
Mosaic  dispensation. 

IV.  Of  the  Ckeeds. 

The  Nicene  Creed  and  the  Apostles'  Creed  ought  to  be  re- 
tained and  believed,  because  every  Article  contained  in  them 
may  be  proved  by  Holy  Scripture. 

V.  Of  the  Transgression  of  ouk  first  Parents. 

By  the  transgression  of  our  first  parents,  they  lost  that  pri- 
mitive innocence  and  perfect  holiness  in  which  God  had  created 
them  ;  and  thus  the  nature  of  man  became  corrupted,  and 
prone  to  evil,  so  that  there  is  no  man  living  who  sinneth  not. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH. 
VI.    Of  Justification. 


oa 


We  are  justified,  or  pardoned,  hj  God,  not  on  account  of  our 
own  good  works,  but  only  through  the  merits  and  mediation 
of  our  blessed  Redeemer  and  Advocate,  Jesus  Christ.  But 
although  good  works  cannot  put  away  our  sins,  nor  appear 
perfect  before  God,  yet  are  they  pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God 
in  Christ,  and  essentially  necessary  to  salvation— for  Scripture 
assures  us,  that  "  faith  without  works  is  dead,"  and  that  with- 
out holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord. 

VII.  Op  Predestination  and  Election. 
Being  well  assured,  from  Holy  Scripture,  of  the  eternal  pur- 
pose or  promise  of  Redemption,  according  to  which  God  sent 
his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world, 
and  Christ  Jesus  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all ;  we  receive  the 
doctrine  of  predestination  as  consistent  with,  and  agreeable  to, 
this  most  gracious  and  general  scheme  of  salvation,  which  we 
believe  to  be  universal  in  the  intention,  however  partial  the 
wickedness  of  mankind  may  render  it  in  the  application. 
Under  the  impression  of  this  belief,  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians 
to  be  satisfied  with  and  attend  to  the  promises  of  God,  as  they 
are  generally  set  forth  to  us  in  Holy  Scripture,  without  seeking 
to  be  "wise  above  what  is  written,"  or  plunging  into  the  unre- 
vealed  secrets  of  either  past  or  future  eternity,  but  always  re- 
membering the  distinction  which  in  such  cases  Moses  lays 
down-"  Secret  things  belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God,  but  the 
things  which  are  revealed  belong  unto  us  and  to  our  children 
for  ever,  that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law." 

VIII.  Op  Salvation  by  Christ  alone. 
Holy  Scripture  declares,  that  "there  is  none  other  name 
under  heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved, 
but  only  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  But  we  are  not 
authorized  to  assert,  that  men  shall  not  be  saved  by  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  his  gospel  has  not  been  promulgated. 
W^e  leave  them  to  the  uncovenanted  mercies  of  God. 

IX.  Of  the  Church. 
The  visible  Church  of  Christ  is  the  whole  multitude  of  be- 
lievers, of  whatsoever  nation  or  language,  dwelling  on  the  face 


94  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

of  the  earth,  among  whom  the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached, 
the  Sacraments  duly  administered,  and  the  order  of  the  priest- 
hood observed,  according  to  Christ's  ordinance  and  appoint- 
ment. 

X.   Op  the  Authority  of  the  Church. 

The  Church  has  power  to  ordain,  change,  and  abolish  rites 
and  ceremonies,  and  to  determine  controversies  of  faith  ;  but 
it  is  not  lawful  for  the  Church  to  ordain  or  command  any  thing 
to  be  received  or  believed  which  is  contrary  to  the  Canon  of 
Scripture,  or  to  expound  one  part  of  the  same  so  as  to  be  re- 
pugnant to  another.  The  Church,  also,  is  the  witness  or  keep- 
er of  Holy  Writ,  and  must  neither  adulterate,  nor  add  to,  nor 
take  from  the  same. 

XI.    Of  Ministering  in  the  Church. 

It  is  not  lawful  for  any  man  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of 
public  preaching,  or  administe^'ing  the  Holy  Sacraments,  until 
he  be  regularly  ordained,  and  sent  to  execute  the  same.  And 
those  we  judge  lawfully  sent,  who  are  ordained  by  the  Bishops 
of  the  Church. 

XII.   Op  the  Sacraments. 

Sacraments  were  ordained  by  Christ,  not  only  to  be  badges 
or  tokens  of  Christian  profession,  but  to  be  outward  and  visi- 
ble  signs  of  inward  and  spiritual  grace,  by  which  He  doth 
work  invisibly  in  us,  and  doth  not  only  quicken,  but  doth  also 
strengthen  and  confirm  our  faith  in  Him. 

XIII.    Op  B.VPTISM. 

Baptism  is  an  ordinance  by  which  we  are  regenerated  and 
born  again  of  water  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  received  into  Christ's 
Church,  and  made  living  members  of  the  same. 

XIV.   Op  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  Supper  of  the  Lord  is  not  only  a  token  of  the  love  that 
Cliristians  ought  to  have  towards  one  another,  but  rather  a 
pledge  of  our  redemption  by  Christ's  death.  To  such  as 
worthily  receive  the  same,  the  bread  which  is  broken  is  a 
partaking  of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  the  cup  of  blessing  is  a 


OF   THE   AMEKICAN   CHURCH.  95 

partaking  of  the  blood  of  Christ ;  both  which  are  spiritually- 
received,  for  the  preservation  of  our  souls  and  bodies  unto 
everlasting  life. 

XV.   Of  the  Oblation  of  Christ. 
The  oblation  of  the  body  of  Christ,  once  made,  is  that  per- 
fect sacrifice,  propitiation,  and  satisfaction,  which  was  offered 
for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.     And  there  is  no  other  sacri- 
fice, satisfaction,  or  atonement  for  sin,  but  that  only. 

XVI.    Of  Excommunicated  Persons. 
Whosoever  is  publicly  excommunicated  by  the  governors  of 
the  Church,  and  cut  ofE  from  the  unity  of  the  same,  is  to  be 
considered  as  an  alien  from  the  promises  of  the  Gospel,  until 
he  be  openly  reconciled,  and  received  again  into  communion. 

XVII.  Op  the  Power  of  the  Civil  Magistrate. 
The  power  of  the  civil  magistrate  extendeth  to  all  men,  as 
well  Clergy  as  Laity,  in  all  things  temporal— but  hath  no 
authority  in  things  purely  spiritual.  And  we  hold  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  all  men  who  are  professors  of  the  Gospel,  to  pay  a 
respectful  obedience  to  the  civil  authority,  regularly  and  legi- 
timately constituted. 

The  clergy  list  appended  to  the  Journal  of  1799 
contained  the  names  of  seven  Bishops  and  two 
hundred  and  twelve  clergymen. 


96  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 


THE    CONYENTION    OF    1801. 

Seven  States — Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  ]N"ew- 
York,  Kew-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and 
Maryland — were  represented  in  the  Convention 
which  met  in  St.  Michael's  Church,  city  of  Tren- 
ton, JSTew- Jersey,  from  the  8th  to  tlie  12th  of 
September,  1801.  Nineteen  clerical  and  nine  lay 
deputies  were  in  attendance  at  this  brief  session, 
and  the  Eev.  Abraham  Beach,  D.D.,  of  New- York, 
was  chosen  President,  and  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Bald- 
win, of  Connecticut,  Secretary,  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  and  Chaplain  to  the  Convention.  The 
application  of  the  Diocese  of  New-Jersey  for  the 
consecration  of  the  Bev.  Dr.  Ogden  was  met  by 
'^  a  direct  refusal  to  recommend "  on  a  vote  by 
dioceses  and  orders.*  The  proposed  change  from 
a  triennial  to  a  quinquennial  Convention  was  de- 
feated, and  a  further  proposed  alteration  of  Art.  I., 
making  the  third  Tuesday  of  May  as  the  time  of 
meeting,  laid  over  for  action  in  1804. 

The  Convention  was  no  sooner  organized  than  a 
call  was  made  upon  the  House  of  Bishops  by  the 
House  of  Deputies  to  know  if  any  communication 
had  been  received  from  the  Bishop  of  New- York, 
resigning  his  jurisdiction.      This  call  elicited  the 

*  The  defeated  Bishop-elect  a  few  years  afterwards  joined 
the  Presbyterian  body. 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  97 

following  letter,  which,  as  the  iirst  Episcopal  resig- 
nation in  the  American  Church,  we  append,  together 
with  the  ''  minute"  of  the  House  of  Bishops  with 
i-ef  erence  to  the  question : 

New- York,  Sept.  7,  1801. 
Right  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  : 

I  think  it  my  duty  to  request  that,  as  President  of  the  House 
of  Bishops,  you  will  inform  that  venerable  body,  that,  induced 
by  ill  health,  and  some  melancholy  occurrences  in  my  family, 
and  an  ardent  wish  to  retire  from  all  public  employment,  I  re- 
signed, at  the  last  meeting  of  our  Church  Convention,  my 
jurisdiction  as  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  State  of  New-York. 

I  am,  with  great  regard,  dear  and  right  rev,  sir, 
Your  affectionate  brother, 

Samuel  Provoost. 

Right  Rev.  Bishop  White. 

The  House  of  Bishops  having  considered  the  subject  brought 
before  them  by  the  letter  of  Bishop  Provoost,  and  by  the  mes- 
sage from  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  touching 
the  same,  can  see  no  grounds  on  which  to  believe,  that  the 
contemplated  resignation  is  consistent  with  ecclesiastical  order, 
or  with  the  practice  of  Episcopal  churches  in  any  ages,  or  with 
the  tenor  of  the  Office  of  Consecration.  Accordingly,  while 
they  sympathize  most  tenderly  with  their  brother  Bishop  Pro- 
voost, on  account  of  that  ill  health,  and  those  melancholy  oc- 
currences which  have  led  to  the  design  in  question,  they  judge 
it  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  sacred  trust  committed  to  them, 
to  recognize  the  Bishop's  act  as  an  effectual  resignation  of  his 
Episcopal  jurisdiction.  Nevertheless,  being  sensible  of  the 
present  exigencies  of  the  church  of  New- York,  and  approving 
of  their  making  provision  for  the  actual  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  the  Episcopacy,  the  Bishops  of  this  house  are  ready  to  con- 
secrate to  the  Office  of  a  Bishop,  any  person  who  may  be  pre- 
sented to  them  with  the  requisite  testimonials  from  the  Gene- 
ral and  State  Conventions,  and  of  whose  religious,  moral,  and 
literary  character,  due  satisfaction  may  be  given.  But  this 
house  must  be  understood  to  be  explicit  in  their  declaration, 


98  THE   GENERAL    CONVENTION 

that  tliey  shall  consider  such  a  person  as  assistant  or  co-adjutor 
Bishop  during  Bishop  Provoost's  life,  although  competent,  in 
point  of  character,  to  all  the  Episcopal  duties  ;  the  extent  in 
which  the  same  shall  he  discharged  by  him,  to  be  dependent 
on  such  regulations  as  expediency  may  dictate  to  the  Church 
in  New- York,  grounded  on  the  indisposition  of  Bishop  Pro- 
Yoost,  and  with  his  concurrence. 

The  publication  by  the  House  of  Deputies  in 
1799,  of  the  draft  of  seventeen  Articles  of  Religion 
reported  by  a  committee  of  that  House,  is  styled  by 
Bishop  White  as  "an  injudicious  measure."  It 
was  so  from  the  fact  that  it  rendered  this  draft  lia- 
ble "to  be  easily  mistaken  for  the  sense  of  at  least 
one  of  the  Houses  of  the  Convention."*  Still,  as 
the  Bishop  proceeds  to  state,  "  it  proved  beneficial 
in  its  unexpected  consequences,"  by  showing  the 
impossibility  of  agreement  on  any  new  draft  of  the 
Articles,  and  thus  preparing  a  way  for  the  formal 
acceptance  of  those  of  the  Mother  Church  of  Eng- 
land. Bishop  White  is  careful  to  state,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  principles  which  governed  his 
course  with  reference  to  the  many  "  vexed  ques- 
tions" arising  at  the  period  of  reorganizing  the 
American  Church,  that,  with  the  exception  of  the 
political  portions,  the  XXXIX  Articles  were  all 
along  "  the  acknowledged  faith  of  the  Church."f 
Though  "  the  opposite  doctrine  was  held  by  many," 
it  "  threatened  unhappy  consequences,"  and  the  only 
precedent  was  "  the  very  exceptionable  manner  of 
doing  business,  adopted  by  the  House  of  Clerical 

*  Memoirs,  pp.  176-178, 179-187.  f  Ibid.,  p.  180. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  99 

and  Lay  Deputies  in  the  year  1789.     That  Honse, 
in  regard  to  every  part  of  the  Prayer  Book  on 
which  they  acted,  brought  the  office  forward  as  a 
matter  originating  with  them,  and  not  their  altera- 
tions, as  affecting  an  office  already  known  and  of 
obligation.     It  was  answered  that  this  was  an  as- 
sumption of  but  one  of  the  Houses  of  a  single  Con- 
vention ;    that   the    other    House  had   even    then 
adopted  a  contrary  course  ;  that  the  same  had  been 
done  in  all  the  preceding  Conventions,  and  that  in 
the  only  subsequent  Convention  in  which  there  had 
been  any  alteration  of  a  former  standard— meaning 
of   the    Ordinal,  altered  in  1792— it   had  been  so 
acted  on,  as  to  acknowledge  the  obligation  of  the 
old  forms,  with  the  exception  of  the  political  parts, 
until  altered.     This  seems  conclusive  reasonmg. 
The  Articles,  to  quote  Bishop  "White,  "  were  there- 
fore adopted  by  the  two  Houses  of  Convention, 
without  their  altering  of  even  the  obsolete  diction 
in   them;    but   with   notices   of   such   changes   as 
change  of  situation  had  rendered  necessary."t     The 
action  setting  forth  the  Articles  is  as  follows  : 

Resolution  of  the  Bisliops,  tlie  Clergy,  and  Laity  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
in  Convention,  in  the  city  of  Trenton,  the  12th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1801,  respecting  Articles  of  Re- 
ligion. 

The  Articles  of  Religion  are  hereby  ordered  to  be  set  forth 
with  the  following  directions,  to  be  observed  in  all  future 
editions  of  the  same  ;  that  is  to  say— 

The  following  to  be  the  title,  viz.  : 


Memoirs.  f  Bishop  White,  Memoirs,  p.  32. 


100        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

"  Articles  of  Religion,  as  established  by  the  Bishops,  the 
Clergy,  and  the  Laity  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  in  Convention,  on  the  12th  day 
of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1801." 

The  Articles  to  stand  as  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  of 
the  Church  of  England,  with  the  following  alterations  and 
omissions,  viz.  : 

In  the  8th  Article,  the  word  "three"  in  the  title,  and  the 
words  "  three — Athanasius'  creed  "  in  the  Article,  to  be  omit- 
ted, and  the  Article  to  read  thus  : 

AiiT.  VIII.     Op  the  Creeds. 

"  The  Nicene  Creed,  and  that  which  is  commonly  called  the 
Apostles'  Creed,  ought  thoroughly  to  be  received  and  believed, 
for  they  may  be  proved  by  most  certain  warrants  of  Holy 
Scripture." 

Under  the  title  "  Article  21,"  the  following  note  to  be  in- 
serted, namely, 

"The  21st  of  the  former  Aticles  is  omitted,  because  it  is 
partly  of  a  local  and  civil  nature,  and  is  provided  for,  as  to  the 
remaining  parts  of  it,  in  other  Articles." 

The  35th  Article  to  be  inserted  with  the  following  note, 
namely, 

"  This  Article  is  received  in  this  Church,  so  far  as  it  declares 
the  Books  of  Homilies  to  be  an  explication  of  Christian  doc- 
trine, and  instructive  in  piety  and  morals.  But  all  references 
to  the  constitution  and  laws  of  England  are  considered  as  in- 
applicable to  the  circumstances  of  this  Church  ;  which  also 
suspends  the  order  for  the  reading  of  said  homilies  in  churches 
until  a  revision  of  them  may  conveniently  be  made,  for  the 
clearing  of  them,  as  well  from  obsolete  words  and  phrases,  as 
from  the  local  references." 

The  36tli  Article,  entitled  "  Of  Consecration  of  Bishops  and 
Ministers,"  to  read  thus  : 

"The  Book  of  Consecration  of  Bishops,  and  ordering  of 
Priests  and  Deacons,  as  set  forth  by  the  General  Convention 
of  this  Church  in  1792,  doth  contain  all  things  necessary  to 


OF   THE   AMEEICAN    CHURCH.  101 

Buch  consecration  and  ordering  :  neither  liatli  it  any  thing, 
that,  of  itself,  is  superstitious  and  ungodly  :  and,  therefore, 
whosoever  are  consecrated  or  ordered  according  to  said  form, 
we  decree  all  such  to  be  rightly,  orderly,  and  lawfully  conse- 
crated and  ordered." 

The  37th  Article  to  be  omitted,  and  the  following  substituted 
in  its  place  : 

"Op  the  Power  op  the  Civil  Magistrate. 
"  The  power  of  the  civil  magistrate  extendeth  to  all  men,  as 
well  Clergy  as  Laity,  in  all  things  temporal— but  hath  no 
authority  in  things  purely  spiritual.  And  we  hold  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  all  men  who  are  professors  of  the  gospel,  to  pay 
respectful  obedience  to  the  civil  authority,  regularly  and  legiti- 
mately constituted." 

Adopted  by  the  House  op  Bishops. 
WILLIAM  WHITE,  D.D.,  Presiding  Bishop. 
Adopted  by  the  House  op  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 
ABRAHAM  BEACH,  D.D.,  President. 

As  there  lias  l)een  more  or  less  discussion  with 
reference  to  the  nature  of  this  action,  it  niaj  be 
well  to  add  to  our  quotations  from  Bishop  White's 
opinions,  the  following  important  paragraph  which 
bears  directly  on  this  matter : 

The  object  kept  in  View,  in  all  the  consultations  held,  and 
the  determinations  formed,was  the  perpetuating  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  on  the  ground  of  the  general  principles  which  she 
had  inherited  from  the  Church  of  England  ;  and  of  not  depart- 
ing from  them,  except  so  far  as  either  local  circumstances 
required,  or  some  very  important  cause  rendered  proper.  To 
those  acquainted  with  the  system  of  the  Church  of  England, 
it  must  be  evident  that  the  object  here  stated  was  accomplish^ 
ed  on  the  ratification  of  the  Articles.* 

*  Memoirs,  p.  33. 


lir^  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

It  should  further  be  noted  in  this  connection  that 
it  appears  from  the  Journal  of  the  Convention  of 
1804,  that 

A  proposed  Canon,  concerning  subscription  to  the  Articles 
of  the  Church,  was  negatived,  under  the  impression  that  a 
puflBcient  subscription  to  the  Articles  is  already  required  by  the 
7th  Article  of  the  Constitution.* 

Permission  was  granted  to  certain  churches  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New-Hampshire, 
and  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  of  Vermont, 
which  had  acceded  to  the  General  Constitution,  to 
form  a  diocesan  organization  under  a  dispensation 
from  the  operation  of  the  eighth  Canon  of  1795. 
Canons  were  adopted  providing  for  the  degradation 
of  those  who  discontinued  the  ministerial  office 
without  lawful  cause ;  limiting  the  operation  of 
Canon  4  of  1795,  providing  for  the  dispensation 
of  branches  of  learning  not  strictly  ecclesiastical  ; 
prescribing  the  mode  of  publishing  authorized 
editions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer ;  and  add- 
ing to  Canon  1  of  1795,  respecting  Episcopal  visita- 
tions. A  proposal  emanating  from  the  celebrated 
Isaac  Wilkins,  D.D.,  of  New- York,  that  lay  deputies 
to  the  General  Convention  should  be  communicants 
of  at  least  one  year's  standing,  was  defeated  by  the 
following  vote : 

Clergy— Massachusetts,  No  ;  Connecticut,  Yea  ;  New- York 


-.oo/^^'^y'®  Reprint  of  Journals  of  General  Conventions,  1785- 
lodo,  I.,  p.  301. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  103 

Yea ;    New-Jersey,   No ;    Pennsylvania,    No  ;    Delaware,    No ; 
Maryland,  No. 

Laity — Connecticut,  No  ;  New- York,  Yea  ;  Delaware,  No  ; 
Maryland,  No. 

Eight  Bishops,  and  two  hundred  and  three  Pres- 
byters and  Deacons,  are  reported  in  the  clergy 
list. 


104        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE    CONVENTION    OF   1804. 

Four  Bishops,  to  whom  one,  Parker,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, was  added  by  consecration,  and  twenty 
clerical  and  nine  lay  deputies  from  the  seven 
States  represented  at  the  preceding  session,  made 
up  the  Convention  of  1804,  Avhicli  met  in  Trinity 
Church,  New- York,  on  the  eleventh,  and  adjourned 
on  the  eighteenth  of  September.  Bishop  White 
presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Beach  was  re-elected  President  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart, 
Secretary.  The  Right  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore, 
D.D.,  preached  the  opening  sermon.  The  Con- 
vention ratilied  the  proposed  alteration  in  the 
Constitution,  changing  the  time  of  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Convention.  This  change  was  occa- 
sioned in  consequence  of  the  prevalence  of 
epidemic  disease  in  the  autumn  for  several  suc- 
cessive years.  Eleven  canons  were  adopted,  thelirst 
concerning  the  election,  and  requiring  the  induction 
of  ministers ;  the  others,  respecting  the  dissolution 
of  pastoral  connection  ;'^  concerning  the  removal  of 
clergymen ;  respecting  differences  between  minis- 


*  Tlie  Canon  grew  out  of  a  Memorial  presented  to  tlie  Con- 
vention by  Trinity  Church,  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  had  for  its 
occasion  an  unhappy  dispute  between  that  parish  and  its  rec- 
tor, the  Rov.  Uzal  Ogden,  D.D.  Vide  Bishop  White's  Me- 
moirs, pp.  190,  191. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  105 

ters  and  their  congregations  ;  respecting  clergymen 
ordained  by  foreign  Bishops;  limiting  the  opera- 
tion of  Canon  6  of  1795,.  respecting  the  testi- 
monials of  ministers  of  other  religious  bodies; 
additional  to  the  said  Canon  requiring  candidates  to 
apply  to  their  own  diocesan  for  orders ;  of  candi- 
dates for  orders  from  portions  of  the  United  States 
which  had  not  acceded  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Church  ;  of  candidates  who  are  refused  orders ; 
respecting  lay  readers ;  and  providing  for  an  accu- 
rate view  of  the  state  of  tlie  Church.  The  "  Office 
of  Induction,"  the  use  of  which  was  required  by 
Canon  1  of  tliis  Convention,  was  set  forth.  This 
*^  Office"  was  closely  copied  from  "An  Office  of 
Induction,  adopted  by  the  Bishop  and  Clergy  of 
the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  in  Convocation,  at 
Derby,  November  20th,  1799,  by  the  Kev.  William 
Smith,  D.D.,  Kector  of  St.  Baul's  Church,  Nor- 
Avalk."  It  was  at  the  request  of  the  Connecticut 
Convention  which  met  at  Stratlield,  June,  1799, 
that  Dr.  Smith,  a  nephew  of  the  celebrated  divine 
of  the  same  name,  to  whom  we  have  had  occasion 
to  refer  again  and  again,  prepared  this  "  Office," 
which  was  formally  accepted  by  the  Convention, 
at  Litchfield,  in  1804.  So  nearly  alike  is  the  Con- 
necticut original  and  the  office  set  forth  by  the 
General  Convention  of  1804,  "as  to  give  to  Con- 
necticut the  whole  credit  of  providing  for  the 
Church  a  service  which,  however  much  it  may  be 
neglected  in  these  days,  was  intended  to  impress 
upon  the  pastor  and  his  i)epple  their  intimate, 
mutual,  and  solemn  relations  to  each  pther."* 

*  Beardriley's  History  of  the  Connecticut  Church,  II.,  p.  19. 


106        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

A  "  Course  of  Ecclesiastical  Studies,"  which  is 
still  (1874)  appended  to  the  Convention  Journal, 
was  established  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  in  pur- 
suance of  a  request  made  by  the  preceding  Con- 
vention. 

The  case  of  the  notorious  Ammi  Eogers  came 
before  the  House  of  Bishops  at  this  Convention, 
with  the  following  "  determination  : " 

After  full  inquiry,  and  fair  examination  of  all  the  evidence 
that  could  be  procured,  it  appears  to  this  house,  that  the  said 
Ammi  Rogers  had  produced  to  the  Standing  Committee  of  New- 
York  (upon  the  strength  of  which  he  obtained  Holy  Orders)  a 
certificate,  signed  with  the  name  of  the  Rev.  Philo  Perry, 
which  certificate  was  not  written  nor  signed  by  him. 

That  the  conduct  of  the  said  Ammi  Rogers,  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  during  his  residence  in  that  State,  since  he  left 
New-York,  has  been  insulting,  refractory,  and  schismatical  in 
the  highest  degree  ;  and  were  it  tolerated,  would  prove  sub- 
versive of  all  order  and  discipline  in  the  Church  ;  and  that  the 
statement  which  he  made  in  justification  of  his  conduct,  was  a 
mere  tissue  of  equivocation  and  evasion,  and  of  course  served 
rather  to  defeat  than  to  establish  his  purpose. 

Therefore,  this  house  do  approve  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Church  in  Connecticut,  in  reproving  the  said  Ammi  Rogers, 
and  prohibiting  him  from  the  performance  of  any  ministerial 
duties  within  that  diocese  ;  and,  moreover,  are  of  opinion, 
that  he  deserves  a  severe  ecclesiastical  censure,  that  of  degra- 
dation from  the  ministry. 

In  regard  to  the  question.  To  what  authority  is  Mr.  Rogers 
amenable  ?  this  house  are  sensible,  that  there  not  having  been, 
previously  to  the  present  Convention,  any  sufficient  provision 
for  a  case  of  a  clergyman  removing  from  one  diocese  to 
another,  it  might  easily  happen  that  different  sentiments 
would  arise  as  to  this  point.  We  are  of  opinion,  that  Mr. 
Rogers'  residence  being  in  Connecticut,  it  is  to  the  authority 
of  that  diocese  he  is  exclusively  amenable.  But  as  the  impo- 
sition practiced  with  a  view  to  the  Ministry  was  in  New- York, 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  107 

we  recommend  to  the  Bishop  and  Standing  Committee  of  thai 
State,  to  send  to  the  Bishop  in  Connecticut  such  documents, 
duly  attested,  of  the  measure  referred  to,  as  will  be  a  ground 
of  procedure  in  that  particular.^ 

Provision  was  made  for  the  publication  of 
authorized  and  standard  copies  of  the  Constitution 
and  Canons,  and  the  Office  of  Induction.  At  the 
suggestion  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Convention  was  accompanied  by  prayer 
in  the  presence  of  the  two  Houses,  the  presiding 
Bishop  officiating.  Two  hundred  and  thirteen 
names,  inchiding  seven  Bishops,  appear  on  the 
clergy  list,  the  returns  for  Virginia  and  South- 
Carolina  being  the  same  as  in  previous  years. 

*  For  a  review  of  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  House  of 
Bishops,  sitting  on  this  question  practically  as  a  Court  of  Ap- 
peal, vide  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  pp.  188-190. 


108        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   C0:N^YENTI0N    of   1808. 

The  States  of  Khode  Island,  Connecticut,  New- 
York,  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and 
Maryland  were  represented  by  fourteen  clerical 
and  thirteen  lay  deputies,  in  the  Convention  of 
1808,  which  met  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  continued 
in  session  from  the  17th  to  the  26th  of  May,  inclu- 
sive. Two  Bishops  only.  White  and  Claggett, 
were  present.  In  the  House  of  Deputies,  the 
officers  of  the  last  session  were  re-elected.  The 
long  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution  giv- 
ing an  absolute  negative  to  the  House  of  Bishops, 
was  adopted  by  a  vote  practically  unanimous,  the 
lay  deputies  of  Pennsylvania  alone  opposing,  and 
that  in  consequence  of  a  supposed  failure  to  comply 
with  the  constitutional  requirement  of  communi- 
cating the  proposed  change  to  the  diocesan  Conven- 
tion.* The  case  of  Ammi  Kogers  came  before  the 
Convention  on  an  appeal  from  this  person  "  from 
a  sentence  of  degradation  said  to  have  been  passed 
on  him,  without  trial  or  hearing,  by  the  Eight  Eev. 
Bishop  Jarvis,  of  Connecticut."  As  we  learn  from 
Bishop  White,  "  there  was  no  doubt  on  the  minds 
of  the  two  Bishops  present,  that  there  had  been  an 


*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  198.     Compare  Perry's  Reprint 
of  the  Journals,  I,,  p.  341. 


OF   THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  109 

oversight  in  not  granting  to  this  man  a  trial,  in  the 
Church  in  that  State.  But  the  oversight,  if  they 
were  correct  in  supposing  one,  was  not  theirs ;  nor 
was  it  in  their  power  to  correct  it."  *  The  action 
taken  by  the  House  of  Bishops  is  given  below  ;  the 
House  of  Deputies  "  properly  refused  to  intermed- 
dle." 

This  house  having  considered  the  contents  of  the  aforesaid 
papers,  are  of  opinion  that,  agreeably  to  the  Constitution  of 
this  Church,  they  have  no  authority  to  act  on  an  appeal  in  regard 
to  the  matter  stated;  and  there  is  no  existing  mode  by  which 
any  Bishop  or  Bishops  of  this  Church  can  take  cognizance  of 
the  conduct  of  any  other  Bishop,  unless  at  the  desire  of  the 
Convention  of  the  diocese  to  which  such  a  Bishop  should 
belong,  and  conformably  to  the  rules  of  process  by  them  estab- 
lished. 

And  whereas  this  house  acted  on  the  concerns  of  the  said 
Ammi  Rogers,  in  the  session  of  1804,  as  appears  by  the 
Minutes,  they  now  wish  it  to  be  known  that  their  proceedings 
at  that  time  originated  in  his  own  petition,  relative  to  the  fol- 
lowing points  : 

1st.  Whether  he  belonged  to  the  diocese  of  Connecticut,  or 
to  that  of  New- York. 

2dly.  The  recalling,  which  he  proposed,  of  a  circular  letter 
written  by  Bishop  Jarvis,  forbidding  the  petitioner  to  perform 
divine  service  in  the  diocese,  and  the  Clergy  and  Laity  of  the 
same  to  countenance  him  as  a  Minister. 

3dly.  A  candid  and  impartial  inquiry  into  his  conduct  and 
character. 

On  the  first  of  the  said  points,  the  house  then  assembled, 
being  assured  that  both  the  parties  were  disposed  to  submit  to 
their  determination,  declared  it  to  be,  that  Ammi  Rogers  was 
a  Clergyman,  not  of  New-York,  but  of  Connecticut. 

The  second  point  being  a  matter  of  internal  concern  of  the 

*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  199. 


110        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Church  in  Connecticut,  was  not  acted  on  judicially  by  this 
house;  although,  as  their  opinion  was  expected  on  both  sides, 
they  expressed  it  as  it  was,  approbatory  of  the  measure. 

On  the  third  point,  they  were  of  the  opinion  that  Ammi 
Rogers,  far  from  having  been  treated  with  injustice,  had  not 
received  a  sentence  suflSiciently  severe. 

To  the  opinions  thus  given,  no  addition  or  alteration  is  in- 
tended by  this  house;  and  they  finally  dismiss  the  subject  from 
their  consideration. 

In  response  to  a  memorial  from  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland  asking  the  enactment  of  the  English 
Canon  concerning  marriages,  which  was  referred  to 
the  House  of  Bishops  by  the  House  of  Deputies, 
the  following  message  was  communicated  : 

The  House  of  Bishops  having  taken  into  consideration  the 
message  sent  to  them  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  De- 
puties, relative  to  the  subject  of  marriage,  as  connected  with 
the  table  of  degrees  within  which,  according  to  the  Canons  of 
the  Church  of  England,  marriage  can  not  be  celebrated,  ob- 
serve as  follows  : 

Agreeably  to  the  sentiment  entertained  by  them,  in  relation 
to  the  whole  Ecclesiastical  system,  they  consider  that  table  as 
now  obligatory  on  tliis  Church,  and  as  what  will  remain  so  ; 
unless  there  should  hereafter  appear  cause  to  alter  it,  without 
departing  from  the  Word  of  God,  or  endangering  the  peace 
and  good  order  of  this  Church.  They  are,  however,  aware, 
that  reasons  exist  for  making  an  express  determination  as  to 
the  light  in  which  this  subject  is  to  be  considered.  They 
conceive  so  highly  of  the  importance  of  it,  and  it  is  connected 
with  so  many  questions,  both  sacred  and  civil,  that  they  doubt 
the  propriety  of  entering  on  it,  without  maturer  consideration 
than  any  expected  length  of  the  present  Session  will  permit  ; 
and  this  opinion  derives  additional  weight,  both  from  there 
being  but  few  of  their  house  present,  and  from  there  being 
several  of  the  churches  not  represented  in  this  Convention. 

It  was 
Resolved, — That  it  be  made  known  to  the  several  State  Con- 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  Ill 

ventions  of  this  Churcli,  that  it  is  proposed  to  consider  of,  and 
determine  on,  at  the  next  General  Convention,  the  propriety 
of  the  following  addition  to  the  8th  article  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  Church  :  "  No  alteration  or  addition  shall  be  made  in  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  other  offices  of  the  Church,  unless 
the  same  shall  be  proposed  in  one  General  Convention,  and  by 
a  resolve  thereof  made  known  to  the  Convention  of  every 
diocese  or  State,  and  adopted  at  the  subsequent  General  Con- 
vention. " 


The  whole  body  of  Canons  was  revised  and 
amended.  A  Pastoral  Letter  was  set  forth  by 
the  Bishops  at  the  request  of  the  House  of  Deputies. 
Eesolutions  were  adopted,  urging  the  propriety, 
necessity,  and  duty  of  sending  regularly  a  deputation 
to  the  General  Convention ;  inviting  the  Church, 
in  States  not  yet  received  into  union  with  the  Con- 
vention, to  accede  to  the  Constitution  thereof; 
advising  the  clergy  in  States  or  Territories  where 
the  Church  is  still  unorganized  to  organize  and  ac- 
cede to  the  Constitution  ;  and  taking  measures  for 
sending  a  bishop  into  the  States  and  Territories 
where  the  Church  is  unorganized.  A  resolution 
expressing  disapproval  of  associated  rectorships  was 
adopted.  It  was  further  resolved  "  to  add  thirty 
hymns  to  the  present  number  contained  in  the 
Prayer  Book,  provided  that  a  Rubric  be  annexed 
thereto,  directing  that  a  certain  portion,  or  portions, 
of  the  Psalms  of  David,  in  metre,  be  sung  at  every 
celebration  of  divine  service."  The  title  of  the 
Office  of  Induction  was  changed  to  "  Office  of 
Institution,"  and  its  use  made  permissory.  The 
following  concurrent  resolutions  were  adopted ; 


112        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

1.  Resolved, — That  the  Ministers  of  this  Church  ought  not 
to  perform  the  funeral  service  in  the  case  of  any  person  who 
shall  give  or  accept  a  challenge  to  a  duel. 

2.  Resolved, — That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Church,  that  it  is  in- 
consistent with  the  law  of  God,  and  the  Ministers  of  this 
Church,  therefore,  shall  not  unite  in  matrimony  any  person 
who  is  divorced,  unless  it  be  on  account  of  the  other  party 
having  been  guilty  of  adultery. 

In  concluding  our  notices  of  this  Convention  we 
may  quote  the  words  of  Bishop  White :  "  On 
a  retrospect  of  the  transactions  of  this  Convention 
there  is  entertained  the  trust  that  it  did  not  end 
without  a  general  tendency  to  consolidate  the  com- 
munion ;  although,  in  the  course  of  the  business, 
there  had  been  displayed,  more  than  in  any  other 
Convention,  the  influence  of  some  notions  leading 
far  wide  of  that  rational  devotion,  w^hicli  this 
Church  has  inherited  from  the  Church  of  England. 
The  spirit  here  complained  of,  was  rather  moderated 
than  raised  higher  during  the  session.  But  it  being 
liable  to  be  combined  with  schemes  of  personal 
consequence,  there  is  no  foreseeing  to  what  lengths 
it  may  extend  in  future."* 

Only  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  names  appear 
on  the  clergy  list,  there  being  no  return  from 
Virginia. 

*  White's  Memoirs,  p.  208. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN"  CHURCH.  113 


THE   COIS^YENTION  OF  1811. 

In  1811,  the  Convention  met  for  the  first  and 
only  time  in  Kew-England.  Its  session,  lasting  but 
four  days,  from  May  21st  to  May  24:th,  inclusive, 
was  held  in  Trinity  Church,  New-Haven.  Nine 
States  were  represented  by  twenty-five  clerical  and 
twenty-tw^o  lay  deputies.  Delaware,  Virginia,  and 
South-Carolina  sent  no  representatives.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Isaac  Wilkins,  of  New-York,  was  chosen  Pre- 
sident, and  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Baldwin,  of  Connecti- 
cut, Secretary,  of  the  House  of  Deputies.  Bishop 
White  preached  the  opening  sermon.  The  Con- 
vention repealed  the  last  (or  46th)  of  the  Canons 
as  codified  at  the  preceding  session,  "  providing  for 
making  known  the  Constitution  and  Canons,"  but 
it  enacted  no  new  canons,  and  its  legislation  only 
ratified  the  constitutional  provision  respecting 
changes  in  the  Prayer  Book,  still  in  force.  The 
testimonials  of  two  Bishops-elect,  Hobart  and  Gris- 
wold,  were  presented,  but  owing  to  the  presence 
of  but  two  bishops.  White  and  Jarvis,  the  consecra- 
tion was  delayed  till  the  aid  of  Bishop  Provoost 
could  be  had,  which  was  with  difliculty  secured, 
even  in  New-York,  the  place  of  his  residence.  The 
measures  proposed  for  the  election  and  support  of 
a  Missionary  Bishop  for  the  western  frontiers  had 
failed  of  success,  and  the  subject  was  committed  in 


114        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

the  care  of  the  Bishops  of  Pennsylvania  and  Yirgi- 
nia.  Action  was  taken,  tending  to  secure  the 
lands  in  Yermont,  belonging  to  the  venerable 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts,  of  the  Mother  Church  of  England,  for 
the  Church's  use.  The  resolution  adopted  at  the 
last  Convention,  denying  the  use  of  the  Burial 
Service  over  the  bodies  of  those  killed  in  duel,  was 
modified  so  as  to  allow  its  use  in  cases  where  evi- 
dence of  sincere  repentance  was  exhibited.  It  was 
agreed  not  to  take  up,  at  present,  the  important 
subject  of  marriages  within  certain  degrees  of  con- 
sanguinity and  affinity.  The  report  of  the  state  of 
the  Church,  now  first  presented,  was  encouraging, 
save  so  far  as  the  Southern  States  were  concerned. 
In  Maryland  the  Church  was  "  still  in  a  deplorable 
condition."  In  Virginia  there  was  "  danger  of  her 
total  ruin."  The  efforts  of  the  Connecticut  Con- 
vention to  obtain  a  college  charter  for  the  Cheshire 
Academy  were  endorsed  by  resolution  of  both 
Houses.  A  second  Pastoral  was  set  forth.  One 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  names  appear  on  the 
clergy  list,  no  returns  being  made  from  Delaware 
and  Virginia. 

The  Convention  had  been  ''  held  under  very 
serious  and  well-founded  apprehensions  that  the 
American  Church  would  be  again  subjected  to  the 
necessity  of  having  recourse  to  the  Mother  Church 
for  the  Episcopacy  ;  or  else  of  continuing  it  without 
requiring  the  canonical  number,  which  might  be 
productive  of  great  disorder  in  future."  Happily, 
on  the  29th  of  May,  in  Trinity  Church  in  the  city 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  115 

of  New- York,  the  Rev.  Jolm  Henry  Ilobart,  D.D., 
was  consecrated  Bishop  of  New-York,  and  tlie  E-ev. 
Alexander  Yiets  Griswold,  Bishop  of  the  ^'  Eastern 
Diocese,"  comprising  the  States  of  Massachusetts, 
(and  afterwards  Maine,)  Rhode  Island,  JSTew-Hamp- 
shire,  and  Yerniont.  The  consecration  was  ac- 
complished by  the  aid  of  Bishop  Provoost,  "al- 
though he  had  never  performed  any  ecclesiastical 
duty  since  the  consecration  of  Bishop  Moore  in 
1801."  *  No  little  discussion  arose  in  consequence 
of  the  omission  by  the  presiding  Bishop,  at  the 
imposition  of  hands  upon  the  Bishops-elect,  of  the 
words,  "  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  It  appeared  on 
investigation  that  these  words  formed  "no  part  of 
the  form  of  the  Church  of  England,  under  the 
reign  of  Charles  11.  ;  were  never  in  that  of  the 
primitive  Church ;  and  are  not  in  the  Roman 
pontifical,  at  this  day."  f 

*  White's  Memoirs,  p,  209.  f  I^i^-'  P-  215. 


116        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONYENTION   OF   1814. 

Eleven  States  were  represented  at  the  Conven- 
tion held  in  Philadelphia,  in  1814.  Five  bishops 
and  forty  nine  deputies,  twenty-eight  clerical  and 
twenty-one  lay,  were  in  attendance.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Croes,  of  New-Jersey,  was  chosen  President  of  the 
lower  House,  and  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Baldwin,  of 
Connecticut,  Secretary ;  James  Milnor,  then  a 
Candidate  for  Orders,  and  lately  a  Member  of 
Congress  and  a  rising  politician,  was  appointed 
Assistant  Secretary.  Evidences  of  a  new  life  ap- 
peared at  the  outset,  for  both  South-Carolina  and 
Virginia  were  represented,  and  on  the  second  day 
of  the  session  the  Rev.  Richard  Channing  Moore, 
D.D.,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  the  latter  State. 

A  lay  member  of  the  Church  at  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  was  admitted  to  the  privilege  of  an 
honorary  seat.  It  was  decided  that  a  clergyman, 
(the  Rev.  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Rhode  Island,)  who  had  removed  from  the  diocese 
of  Vermont  subsequent  to  his  election  as  a  clerical 
deputy,  should  be  admitted  to  a  seat  as  a  member 
of  the  Convention.  At  the  instance  of  the  lower 
House,  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was 
added  to  the  prayers  and  sermon  with  which  the  Con- 
vention was  to  be  opened  in  future.  The  reprinting 
of  the  Journals  of  the  General  Convention  was  or- 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  117 

dered,*  the  subject  of  a  Theological  Seminary  was 
broached,  and  the  identity  of  the  Church  in  the 
United  States  "  with  the  body  heretofore  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Church  of  England  "  was  declared. 
In  a  majority  of  the  dioceses  the  report  of  the  state 
of  the  Church  was  encouraging.  But  in  Delaware 
the  condition  was  "  truly  distressing  and  the  pros- 
pect gloomy."  In  Maryland  the  Church  still  con- 
tinued "  in  a  state  of  depression."  In  Yirginia  the 
Church  had  "  fallen  into  a  deplorable  condition  ;" 
"  in  many  places  her  ministers"  had  "  thrown  off 
their  sacred  profession ;"  her  liturgy  "  was  either 
contemned  or  unknown,"  "  her  sanctuaries  deso- 
late ;"  "  spacious  temples,  venerable  even  in  their 
dilapidation  and  ruins,"  were  "  now  the  habitations 
of  the  wild  beast  of  the  forest."  A  canon,  respect- 
ing the  appropriation  of  the  Communion  Alms, 
was  passed,  and  the  House  of  Bishops  placed  on 
record  its  opinion  "  that  it  was  contrary  to  the 
design  of  the  canon"  (the  19th)  "  for  candidates  to 
read  sermons  from  the  places  usually  considered  as 
appropriated  to  ordained  ministers,  or  to  appear  in 
bands,  or  gowns,  or  surplices."  The  study  of  the 
Homilies  was  enjoined  upon  candidates  for  Holy 
Orders.  Standing  was  recommended  as  "  the  more 
comely  posture"   during  the  singing  of  psalms  in 

*  This  order  resulted  in  the  appearance,  in  1817,  of  an  octavo 
volume  of  nearly  400  pages,  edited  by  Bishop  White,  and 
published  by  John  Bioren,  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  were  re- 
printed the  Journals  of  1785-1814  inclusive,  the  Canons  of 
1789-1814,  with  the  Constitution  and  the  Pastorals  of  1808, 
1811,  and  1814.  This  volume  has  long  since  been  out  of  print, 
and  is  almost  as  difficult  to  obtain  as  the  originals  of  the 
Journals  which  it  reproduces. 


118        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

metre,  and  the  hymns.  It  was  resolved  that  it 
would  not  be  proper  for  the  Convention  or  the 
House  of  Bishops  "  to  give  their  sanction  to  any 
work,  however  tending  to  religions  instruction,  or 
to  the  excitement  of  pious  affections."  On  an  ap- 
plication for  the  sanction  of  the  Convention  to  a 
proposed  addition  to  the  anthem  appointed  for  cer- 
tain festivals  instead  of  the  Yenite^  the  determina- 
tion not  to  enter  into  a  review  of  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer  during  this  session  was  expressed.  It 
was  resolved  that  efforts  should  be  taken  to  make 
known  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the  Church 
and  the  proceedings  of  the  Conventions.  It  was 
recommended  that  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of 
each  diocese  should  prepare  a  report  on  the  state  of 
the  Church  before  the  meeting  of  each  General 
Convention  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  commit- 
tee of  the  House  of  Deputies  appointed  to  consider 
this  subject.  The  declaration  of  identity  with  the 
Church  of  England,  concurred  in  by  both  Houses, 
to  which  reference  has  been  made,  was  as  follows  : 

It  having  been  credibly  stated  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  that 
on  questions,  in  reference  to  property  devised,  before  the  Revo- 
lution, to  congregations  belonging  to  "  the  Church  of  England," 
and  to  uses  connected  with  that  name,  some  doubts  have  been 
entertained  in  regard  to  the  identity  of  the  body  to  which  the 
two  names  have  been  applied,  the  House  think  it  expedient  to 
make  the  declaration,  and  to  request  the  concurrence  of  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  therein — That  "  The  Pro- 
tcstant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,"  ia 
the  same  body  heretofore  known  in  these  States  by  the  name 
of  "The  Church  of  England  ;"  the  change  of  name,  although 
not  of  religious  principle,  in  doctrine,  or  in  worship,  or  in  dis- 
cipline, being  induced  by  a  characteristic  of  the  Church  of 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  119 

England,  supposing  the  independence  of  Christian  churches, 
under  the  different  sovereignties  to  which,  respectively,  their 
allegiance  in  civil  concerns  belongs.  But  that,  when  the  seve- 
rance alluded  to  took  place,  and  ever  since,  the  Church  conceives 
of  herself  as  professing  and  acting  on  the  principles  of  the 
Church  of  England,  is  evident  from  the  organization  of  our  Con- 
ventions, and  from  their  subsequent  proceedings,  as  recorded 
on  the  Journals,  to  which,  accordingly,  this  Convention  refer 
for  satisfaction  in  the  premises.  But  it  would  be  contrary  to 
fact,  were  any  one  to  infer  that  the  discipline  exercised  in  this 
Church,  or  that  any  proceedings  therein,  are  at  all  dependent 
on  the  will  of  the  civil  or  of  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  any- 
foreign  country.* 

On  an  application  from  the  clerical  deputies  of 
the  Church  in  Connecticut,  for  a  definition  of  the 
phrase  in  the  40th  canon,  "  or  by  some  other  joint 
act  of  the  parties,  and  of  a  minister  of  this 
Church,"  the  Bishops  expressed  the  "  opinion,  that 
any  person  duly  baptized,  in  any  religious  society 
extraneous  to  this  communion,  joining  himself  to 
any  congregation  of  this  communion,  and  possess- 
ing an  interest  in  its  concerns,  in  consequence  of 
express  or  implied  permission,  may  be  properly 
entered  by  the  minister  on  the  list  of  the  names  of 
the  persons  under  his  parochial  care.  But  the 
Bishops  do  not  consider  themselves  as  now  called 
upon  to  consider,  whether  it  may  not  be  expedient 
to  make  provision  for  a  more  definite  mode  for  the 
receiving  into  this  Church  of  persons  not  baptized 
within  its  pale,  but  joining  it  on  conviction  and 
with  fair  characters."  f 

*  Perry's  Reprint  of  Journals,  I.,  pp.  431,  432;  vide  also 
Bishop  White's  Memoirs  of  the  Church,  pp.  221-224. 

f  Perry's  Reprint  of  the  Journals,  I.,  pp.  436,  437  ;  compare 
Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  217, 


120        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

A  Pastoral  was  set  forth,  and,  with  those  preced- 
ing it,  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  appendix  to  the 
new  edition  of  the  Journals,  to  be  published  under 
the  editorship  of  Bishop  "White.  The  clergy  list 
showed  a  slight  increase,  though  Virginia  made  no 
report,  and  the  number  of  names  was  less  than  two 
hundred. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  121 


THE    CONYEIS^TIOX    OF    1817. 

The  Convention  of  1817  met  in  Kew-York,  at 
Trinity  Church,  continuing  in  session  from  the  20th 
to  the  27th  day  of  May,  inchisive.  The  Eev.  Dr. 
Wilkins  was  elected  President,  and  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Baldwin,  Secretary,  with  Kev.  John  C.  Kudd  as  his 
assistant.  North-Carolina  was  admitted  into  union 
with  the  Convention.  The  resignation  of  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  House  of  Deputies,  tendered  in  con- 
sequence of  his  difficulty  of  hearing,  was  accepted, 
and  the  Kev.  William  H.  Wilmer,  of  Yirginia,  ap- 
pointed in  his  stead.  The  organization  of  a  Theo- 
logical Seminary  was  resolved  upon,  and  agents  were 
appointed  to  solicit  funds  in  its  behalf.  Three 
canons  were  passed — one,  permissory  in  its  nature, 
giving  authority  to  the  parishes  in  "Western  Penn- 
sylvania and  Yirginia  to  place  themselves  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  bishop  consecrated  for  any  State 
or  States  west  of  the  Alleghanies  ;  another,  to  gov- 
ern in  the  case  of  a  minister  declaring  his  renun- 
ciation of  the  ministry ;  and  a  third,  for  carrying 
into  effect  the  design  of  the  second  rubric  before  the 
Communion  Office.  The  bishops  placed  on  record 
an  expression  of  their  disapprobation  of  worldly 
and  licentious  amusements,  an  effort  to  secure  a 
similar  resolution  in  the  lower  House  having  failed 
of  a  direct  vote.     This  minute  is  as  follows : — 

The  House  of  Bishops,  solicitous  for  the  preservation  of 
the  purity  of  the  Church  and  the  piety  of  its  memhers,  are 


lf>3  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

induced  to  impress  upon  the  clergy  the  important  duty,  with  a 
discreet  but  earnest  zeal,  of  warning  the  people  of  their  re- 
pective  cures  of  the  danger  of  an  indulgence  in  those  woi  kli y 
pleasures  which  may  tend  to  withdraw  the  afEections  liom 
spiritual  things.  And  especially  on  the  subject  of  gambling, 
of  amusements  involving  cruelty  to  the  brute  creation,  and 
of  theatrical  representations,  to  which  some  peculiar  circum- 
stances have  called  their  attention, — they  do  not  hesitate  to 
express  their  unanimous  opinion,  that  these  amusements,  as 
well  from  their  licentious  tendency  as  from  the  strong  tempta- 
tions to  vice  which  they  afford,  ought  not  to  be  frequented. 
And  the  Bishops  can  not  refrain  from  expressing  their  deep 
regret  at  the  information  that  in  Bome  of  our  large  cities  so 
little  respect  is  paid  to  the  feelings  of  the  members  of  the 
Church,  that  theatrical  representations  are  fixed  for  the  even- 
ings of  her  most  solemn  festivals.* 

The  proposal  to  grant  a  copyright  on  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  referred  to  this  Convention  by 
that  of  1814,  was  disallowed.  Steps  were  taken, 
subject  to  the  decision  of  the  next  Convention, 
changing  the  time  of  meeting  from  May  to  October. 
The  House  of  Bishops  were  requested  to  designate 
a  standard  Bible ;  a  measure  taken  in  consequence 
of  the  discovery  of  a  large  edition  of  the  Scriptures 
containing  a  corruption  of  Acts  6  :  3,  implying  a  sanc- 
tion of  congregational  ordination.f  A  French  ver- 
sion of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  the  Psalms 
in  Metre,  and  Hymns  and  Offices,  was  authorized. 
The  following  minute  was  adopted  by  the  Bishops 
and  communicated  to  the  House  of  Deputies  : 

The  House  of  Bishops,  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
informing  tlie  youth  and  others  in  the  Doctrines,  Constitution, 

*  Perry's  Reprint  of  the  Journals,  I.,  p.  494. 
•f- Instead  of  "  whom  ice  may  appoint  over  this  businet^.s,"  tlie 
edition  referred  to  had  it  "  whom  yejn»,y  appoint,"  etc. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  123 

and  Liturgy  of  the  Church,  deem  it  their  duty  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  Clergy  to  the  22d  Canon,  which  enjoins  on 
them  diligence  in  catechetical  instruction  and  lectures.  The 
Bishops  consider  these  as  among  the  most  important  duties  of 
clergymen,  and  among  the  most  effectual  means  of  promoting 
religious  knowledge  and  practical  piety  * 

The  organization  of  the  congregations  in  the 
"Western  States  into  dioceses  was  urged,  but  the 
union  of  several  States  in  one  convention  was  pro- 
nounced inconsistent  with  the  Constitution.  The 
organization  of  nineteen  parishes  in  the  State  of 
Ohio  was  reported,  and  the  state  of  the  Church  in 
every  diocese,  save  Delaware,  was  deemed  full  of 
encouragement.  The  clergy  list  specifies  the  age  of 
one  clergyman  in  Yirginia  as  100,  and,  without 
reporting  the  western  laborers,  gives  two  hundred 
and  sixty-two  names. 

*  Reprinted  Journals,  I.,  p.  491. 


124        THE  GENERAL  CONTENTION 


THE   C0KYENTI0:N"  of  1820. 

The  next  Convention  met  in  St.  James's  Church, 
Philadelphia,  May  16th  to  24th,  inclusive.  Eight 
bishops  and  thirty-six  clerical,  with  twenty-seven 
lay  deputies  were  in  attendance,  representing  four- 
teen dioceses.  The  officers  of  the  last  Convention 
were  re-elected.  The  State  of  Maine,  just  orga- 
nized into  separate  existence,  was  admitted  into 
union.  The  transfer  of  the  Theological  School  from 
New- York  to  Kew-Haven,  and  the  arrangement  in 
detail  of  its  management,  officers,  course  of  study, 
and  general  plan,  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the 
session.  The  concurrence  of  the  House  of  Bishops 
in  this  change  of  location  was  accompanied  with  a 
imanimous  declaration  that  they  did  not  "  mean  by 
this  concurrence  to  interfere  with  any  plan  now 
contemplated,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  contemplated, 
in  any  diocese  or  dioceses,  for  the  establishment  of 
theological  institutions  or  professorships."  The  state 
of  the  Church  in  each  diocese  was  reported  as  satis- 
factory, and  in  transmitting  their  report  to  the 
Bishops,  the  Lower  House  solicited  the  opinion  of 
the  House  of  Bishops  in  a  Pastoral  on  the  too  gen- 
eral custom  of  administering  Baptism  privately,  and 
also  on  the  subject  of  the  qualifications  of  sponsors. 
The  House  of  Bishops  was  requested  "  to  take  mea- 
bures  for  making  known  any  errors  or  omissions  in 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  125 

the  octavo  edition  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
published  by  Gaine  in  1793,  which  was  established 
by  the  4:3d  Canon  as  the  standard  book,  so  that  they 
may  be  avoided  or  supplied  in  future  editions." 
Certain  "  instructions  to  be  observed  in  editions  of 
the  Book  of  Common  Prayer"  were  adopted  by 
concurrent  vote : 

1.  That  special  attention  be  paid  to  the  title-page  and  table 
of  contents,  so  that  nothing  may  be  omitted  or  added. 

2.  That  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  be  distinguished  from 
the  Book  of  Psalms  in  Metre,  the  Articles  of  Religion,  and  sun- 
dry Offices  set  forth  by  this  Church,  viz.: — The  Form  and  Man- 
ner of  Making,  Ordaining,  and  Consecrating  Bishops,  Priests, 
and  Deacons  ;  The  Form  of  Consecration  of  a  Church  or  Chapel ; 
A  Prayer  to  he  used  at  the  Meetings  of  Convention  ;  An  Office  of 
Institution  of  Ministers  into  Parishes  or  Churches — all  which 
are  of  equal  authority  with  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  but 
which,  when  bound  up  with  it,  ought  not  to  appear  as  parts 
thereof.* 

The  creation  of  a  General  Convention  Fund  was 
recommended.  Measures  were  taken  for  the  col- 
lection of  both  General  and  Diocesan  Convention 
Journals  and  other  documents  illustrating  our  eccle- 
siastical history.  The  formation  of  a  missionary 
society  of  the  Churchf  was  attempted,  but  in  such 
a  way  that  the  scheme  came  to  naught.  A  joint 
committee  for  the  "  establishment  of  a  standard  " 
by  which  copies  of  the  Scriptures  should  be  cor- 
rected, was  appointed.  An  application  for  extend- 
ing the  sanction  of  the  Convention  to  a  Selection  of 
Psalms  and   Hymns,   made  from   the   authorized 

*  Reprinted  Journals,  I.,  pp.  557,  558. 

+  Vide  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  pp.  242,  243. 


126        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTTON" 

Psalms  ill  Metre  and  Hynms,  was  refused.  The 
proposed  change  of  tlie  time  of  meeting  of  the 
Convention  was  negatived,  and  a  further  alteration 
of  the  Constitution,  giving  to  each  Convention  the 
appointment  of  the  time  and  place  of  the  next 
session,  was  laid  over  for  consideration.  The  open- 
ing sermon  by  Bishop  Moore,  of  Virginia,  occa- 
sioned discussion.  The  occasion  of  this  was,  as  we 
learn  from  Bishop  White,"  "the  preacher's  having 
made  baptismal  regeneration  one  of  the  points  of 
his  discourse."' 

The  Bishop  proceeds : 

So  far  as  the  duty  of  a  conventional  preaclier  is  concerned, 
the  author  is  of  opinion  that  there  should  be  carefully  avoided 
all  questions  on  which  the  sense  of  the  Episcopal  Church  is 
doubtful ;  but  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  there  should  be  brought 
under  this  head  a  doctrine  which  we  have  been  taught  to  lisp 
in  the  earliest  repetitions  of  our  catechism  ;  wh  cli  pervades 
sundry  of  our  devotional  services,  especially  the  baptismal  ; 
which  is  affirmed  in  our  Articles  also  ;  which  was  confessedly 
held  and  taught  during  the  ages  of  the  martyrs,  and  the  belief 
of  which  was  universal  in  the  Church  until  it  was  perceived  to 
be  inconsistent  with  a  religious  theory,  the  beginning  and  pro- 
gress of  which  can  be  as  distinct  y  traced  as  those  of  any  error 
of  popery,  f 

A  canon,  requiring  the  reading  of  the  Pastoral 
Letters  by  the  clergy  to  their  congregations,  was 
enacted,  and  another  "of  the  Consecration  of 
Bishops  during  the  recess  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion." The  House  of  Bishops  refused  to  concur  in  a 
canon  "  of  the  officiating  of  persons  not  regularly 

*  Memoirs,  p.  236.  f  ^^^^- 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  127 

ordained,  and  repealing  the  35th  canon,"  proposed 
by  the  House  of  Deputies,  and  communicated  the 
following  statement  of  their  reasons  for  non-concur- 
rence : 

The  Bishops  have  found  by  experience  that  such  ministers 
in  many  instances,  preaching  in  our  churches  and  to  our  con- 
gregations, avail  themselves  of  such  opportunities  to  inveigh 
against  the  principles  of  our  communion  ;  and  in  some  instances 
have  endeavored  to  obtain  a  common  right  with  us  in  our 
property.  It  is  therefore,  not  from  the  want  of  charity  to 
worthy  persons  dissenting  from  us,  but  for  the  maintenance  of 
such  charity,  and  to  avoid  collision,  that  we  declare  our  non- 
concurrence. 

The  Church  was  now  rapidly  extending  on 
every  side,  and  the  clergy  list  records  over  three 
hundred  names. 


128  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 


THE  SPECIAL  CONYENTION  OF  1821. 

The  affairs  of  the  Theological  Seminary  occasioned 
a  call  for  a  special  Convention,  which  met  in  St. 
Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia,  the  30th  of  October, 
and  continued  in  session  until  the  3d  of  November, 
inclusive.  Six  bishops  and  thirty-two  clerical  depu- 
ties, representing  eleven  dioceses,  and  twenty-seven 
lay  deputies  from  ten  dioceses,  were  in  attendance. 
The  Convention  assembled  on  the  call  of  the  presid- 
ing Bishop,  at  the  desire  of  a  majority  of  the  bish- 
ops, to  consider  whether  any  measures  should  be 
adopted  to  secure  a  legacy  of  about  $60,000,  be- 
queathed by  Jacob  Sherred,  of  the  city  of  New- York, 
to  a  seminary  which  should  be  founded  within  the 
State,  either  by  the  General  or  the  Diocesan  Con- 
vention. As  a  result,  the  Seminaries  of  New- 
Haven  and  New- York  were  consolidated,  and  the 
General  Seminary  of  the  Church  established  in  the 
city  of  New-York.  The  Bishops  were  to  be  trustees 
ex  officio  ;  the  other  trustees  were  to  be  nominated 
by  the  dioceses,  and  to  be  residents  within  the 
limits  thereof,  subject  to  the  confirmation  or  re- 
jection of  the  General  Convention.  Each  diocese 
was  entitled  to  one  trustee,  and  to  one  additional  for 
every  $2000  contributed  in  the  same  to  the  funds  of 
the  Seminary  until  the  sum  given  amounted  to 
$10,000,    and    one    additional    trustee   for   every 


OF  THE   AMEETCAN   CHURCH.  129 

$10,000  exceeding.  The  Seminary  liad  power  to 
establish  branches,  and  one  was  temporarily  in  ope- 
i-ation  in  Geneva,  Western  New- York.  At  this 
Convention,  the  Constitution  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  the  Church  was  perfected.  A  single  canon 
respecting  the  Standard  Prayer  Book  was  enacted. 
An  interesting  report  on  the  errors  and  omissions 
of  Hugh  Gaine's  edition  of  the  Standard  Prayer 
Book  of  1793  was  appended  to  the  Journal,  together 
with  a  table  of  the  days  on  wdiich  Easter  \vill  fall, 
which  has  only  within  the  past  few  years  ceased  to 
be  of  service.  The  House  of  Bishops  also  placed 
on  record  their  sense  of  the  meaning  of  the  last 
Rubric  in  the  Communion  service  in  the  following 
important  paper : 

Concerning  the  last  Rubric  in  the  Communion 
Service. 

The  House  of  Bishops  being  informed  of  what  they  consider 
as  a  great  misunderstanding,  in  various  places,  of  the  rubric  at 
the  end  of  the  communion  service,  think  it  their  duty  to  declare 
their  sense  of  the  same,  and  to  communicate  it  to  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 

In  the  Common  Prayer  Book  of  the  Church  of  England,  the 
words  in  the  parenthesis  are—"  if  there  be  no  communion."  In 
the  review  of  1789,  it  was  put — "  if  there  be  no  sermon  or  com- 
munion"— and  this  has  been  interpreted  to  mean,  that  if  therp 
be  a  sermon,  what  has  been  called  the  ante-communion  service 
is  to  be  omitted— Against  this  construction  the  Bishops  object 
as  follows — 

1st.  The  construction  rests  or^  inference  ;  deduced  in  con- 
trariety to  the  positive  direction-"  Then  shall  follow  the  ser- 
mon." Had  an  exception  been  intended,  it  woulii  doubtless 
have  been  expressed  positively,  as  in  other  rubrics.  Further  ; 
the  rubric  in  question  prescribes  that  "  when  there  is  a  com- 
munion, the  minister  shall  return  to  the  Lord's  table  :"  which 


130        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

])iVHUiiiv'3  him  to  have  bt'en  there  before,  in  the  ante-commu- 
nion service,  unless  in  the  permitted  alternative  of  some  other 
place. 

2d.  The  argument  on  the  other  side  proves  too  much,  and 
th'.  refore  nothing".  It  is  said  of  those  who  urge  it,  that  they 
conceive  themselves  bound  to  use  tlie  whole  service  on  a  com- 
munion day  :  whereas  it  should  be  dispensed  with,  on  the 
xsauie  principle  on  which  it  is  supposed  to  be  superseded  by  the 
sermon.  On  the  other  hand,  if  there  being  either  a  sermon  or 
the  communion  should  be  thought  to  warrant  the  omission  ; 
can  it  be,  that  the  convention  designed  to  leave  in  the  book  the 
ante-communion  service,  with  all  the  collects,  the  gospels,  and 
the  epistles  attached  to  them,  to  be  litth;  more  than  a  dead  let- 
ter ;  never  to  be  used,  except  on  the  few  occasions,  when  the 
Baid  service  is  unconnected  with  either  of  the  said  provisions  ? 
For,  it  is  not  required  to  be  used,  either  with  the  morning  or 
with  the  evening  prayer. 

8d.  There  is  a  rubric,  prescribing  the  place  in  the  service,  at 
which  notice  shall  be  given  of  holidays,  etc.  Can  it  be  sup- 
posed, that  a  provision  of  this  sort  was  intended  to  be  done 
away,  not  professedly,  but  indirectly  ?  and  that  even  there 
should  be  no  i^rovision  for  notifying  the  communion  ? 

4th.  It  is  understood,  that  the  morning  prayer,  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  communion,  were  designed  to  be  distinct 
services,  to  be  used  at  different  times  of  the  day.  Probably,  at 
the  time  of  the  reformation,  the  practice  was  generally  con- 
formable to  the  provision  ;  and  it  is  said  to  prevail  at  present 
in  some  places  in  England.  Now,  although  there  is  probably 
no  church  in  the  United  States  of  which  the  same  can  be  affirm- 
ed ;  yet,  why  raise  a  bar  against  so  reasonable  and  so  godly  a 
practice  ?  an  effort  for  which,  would  reduce  the  whole  to  the 
sermon  ;  except,  when  the  ccmim union  weri^  to  be  administered  : 
and  then,  there  would  be  the  latter  part  of  the  service  only. 

5th.  The  construction  casts  a  l)leniish  on  the  observance  of 
every  festival  of  our  church.  To  speak  in  ])articular  of  Easter 
Sunday,  Whitsunday,  and  Christmas  day  :  can  it  be  supposed, 
that  the  convention  intended  to  abrogate  the  reading  of  the 
portions  of  scripture,  the  most  pertinent  of  any  in  the  Bible  ? 
or  that  the  members  of  the  body  were  so  careless,  as  not  to  per- 
ceive the  eff(!(t  of  the  word  introduced  by  them  into  the  paren- 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  131 

thesis  ?  Neither  of  these  was  the  case  ;  although  they  had  not 
the  sagacity  to  foresee  the  use  which  would  be  made  of  their 
super-addition  :  a  use,  which  may  be  applied  hereafter  to  the 
abandoning  of  the  observance  of  those  festivals.  For  why 
should  the  church  retain  them,  after  dispensing  with  whatever 
is  attached  to  them  in  the  respective  services  ?  The  remark  ap- 
plies equally  to  the  two  days  of  fasting  or  abstinence — (rood 
Friday  and  Ash  Wednesday.  It  is  here  supposed,  that  on  the 
former,  there  are  the  service  and  sermons  in  all  our  churches 
furnished  with  the  ministry.  But  according  to  the  opposite 
opinion,  the  sermon  dispenses  with  the  recital  of  the  consum- 
mation of  our  Saviour's  sufferings,  and  not  only  on  Good  Fri- 
day, but  on  every  day  of  passion  week,  if  there  be  sermons. 
Could  this  have  been  intended  ? 

6th,  There  is  the  magnitude  of  the  change  thus  made  in  the 
liturgy,  without  the  subjecting  of  the  resulting  consequences 
to  the  consideration  of  any  General  Convention  :  for  this  is  here 
affirmed  without  the  apprehension  of  contradiction  from  any  of 
the  surviving  members.  The  most  obvious  of  the  consequen- 
ces, and  such  as  could  not  have  escaped  the  notice  of  the  least 
attentive,  were,  the  dispensing  with  the  reading  of  the  Ten 
Commandments  ;  the  weekly  return  of  which  may  well  be 
thought  to  have  a  beneficial  effect  on  morals  ;  and  tlie  derang- 
ing of  a  selection  of  passages  of  scripture,  always  supposed  to 
have  been  made  with  great  judgment,  and  suited  to  the  diffe- 
rent seasons  of  the  year.  They  were  of  like  uses  in  the  church, 
before  the  prevalence  of  the  corruption  of  the  papacy  ;  have 
withstood,  in  some  measure,  its  systematic  hostility  to  a  gene- 
ral knowledge  of  the  scriptures  ;  and  probably,  have  prevented 
a  greater  enormity  of  unevangelical  error,  than  what  we  now 
find  :  for  although  the  selections  were  in  Latin,  they  were  at 
least  instructive  to  the  many  who  understood  the  language,  at 
a  time  when  even  among  that  description  of  people,  the  pos- 
session of  a  Bible  was  rare.  To  the  present  day,  they  are  held 
in  high  esteem,  not  only  by  our  parent  church,  but  by  the 
Lutheran  churches  of  Sweden,  of  Denmark,  of  sundry  German 
principalities,  and  of  this  country.  In  some  of  the  European 
States,  the  subject  of  the  sermon  is  expected  to  be  taken  from 
the  epistle,  or  from  the  gospel  for  the  Sunday.  There  seems 
no  reasonable  objection,  in  any  future  review  of  the  Liturgy, 


132  HE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

to  the  making  of  some  abbreviation,  suited  to  the  joining  of 
services  designed  to  be  distinct  ;  but  there  may  be  doubted  the 
expediency  of  making  so  great  an  inroad  as  that  projected  on 
the  service  now  in  question. 

7th.  The  ante-communion  service  continued  to  be  used  as  be- 
fore, by  the  clergy  who  were  present  in  the  convention,  in 
which  it  is  now  imagined  to  have  been  dispensed  with.  It  is 
confidently  believed  that  there  was  not  an  exception  of  an  indi- 
vidual ;  although,  on  the  other  side,  the  major  number  must 
be  supposed  to  have  been  desirous  of  the  innovation.  In  the 
interpretation  of  a  law,  immediate  practice  under  it  has  been 
held  to  be  a  good  expositor  ;  especially  when,  as  in  the  present 
case,  a  contrary  sense  had  not  been  heard  of  for  a  long  course 
of  years. 

The  question  may  occur — why  did  the  convention  introduce 
the  words,  "  Sermon  or,"  into  the  parenthesis  ?  It  was  to  re- 
concile the  other  rubric  referred  to,  with  frequent  and  allowa- 
ble practice.  The  said  rubric  says — "then  shall  follow  the 
sermon."  Perhaps,  when  the  service  was  compiled  there  was 
a  sermon  on  every  saint's  day,  as  well  as  on  every  principal 
festival.  In  modern  usage,  it  has  been  otherwise :  which  made 
it  convenient  to  provide  for  the  minister's  proceeding  to  the 
blessing.  The  parenthesis  means,  that  although  there  be  no 
sermon,  or  although  there  be  no  communion,  the  minister  shall 
act  as  directed  by  the  rubric. 

The  bishops  therefore  deem  it  their  duty  to  express  the  de- 
cided opinion,  that  the  rubrics  of  the  communion  service  as 
well  as  other  general  considerations  enjoin  the  use  of  that  part 
which  precedes  the  sermon,  on  all  occasions  of  sermon  or  com- 
munion, as  well  as  on  those  festivals  and  fasts,  when  neither 
sermon  nor  communion  occurs.* 


We  can  not  better  conclude  our  notice  of  tliis 
brief  but  eventful  Convention  tlian  by  quoting 
the   closing   article    of    the    Constitution    of    the 


*  For  further  notices  of  this  rubric,  vidt  Bishop  White's  Me- 
moirs, pp.  245,  240. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  133 

Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  adopted 
at  this  session : 

Art.  XII. 

It  is  recommended  to  every  member  of  this  society,  to  pray 
to  Almighty  God,  for  his  blessing  upon  its  designs,  under  the 
full  conviction  that  unless  he  direct  us  in  all  our  doings  with 
his  most  gracious  favor,  and  further  us  with  his  continual 
help,  we  can  not  reasonably  hope,  either  to  procure  suitable 
persons  to  act  as  missionaries,  or  expect  that  their  endeavors 
will  be  successful. 


134        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE  CONVENTION   OF  1823. 

Seven  of  the  ten  Bishops  of  the  Church,  and 
forty  clerical,  with  twenty-four  lay  deputies,  repre- 
senting thirteen  dioceses,  were  in  attendance  upon 
the  Convention  of  1823,  in  St.  Peter's  Church, 
Philadelphia,  from  the  20th  to  the  26th  of  May, 
inclusive.  The  officers  of  the  last  Convention  were 
re-elected,  hut  the  secretary,  Eev.  Ashbel  Baldwin, 
tendered  his  resignation,  whereupon  the  Rev.  Dr. 
John  C.  Rudd  was  chosen  in  his  place,  with  the  Rev. 
James  Montgomery  as  assistant.  The  first  business 
was  the  reception  of  the  Church  in  Georgia  into 
union  with  the  Convention.  The  alteration  of  the  first 
article  of  the  Constitution,  relative  to  the  change  of 
the  time  and  place  of  meeting,  proposed  in  1820, 
was  adopted.  A  joint  committee  was  appointed 
to  report  to  the  next  Convention  alterations  in  the 
Psalms  in  metre  and  Hymns.  The  report  of  the 
state  of  the  Church  attested  a  general  and  healthy 
growth.  Canons  on  the  admission  of  candidates 
for  orders  and  prescribing  the  mode  of  publishing 
authorized  editions  of  the  Standard  Bible  were 
passed.  Provision  was  made  for  the  contingent  ex- 
penses of  the  General  Convention  ;  and  the  first 
Bishop   of  North-Carolina   received    consecration. 

In  the  several  dioceses,  sixty-one  candidates  for 
Holy  Orders  were  reported,  only  eighteen  of  whom 


OF  THE  amp:rican  church.  135 

were  ?.t  the  General  Theological  Seminary.  The 
House  of  Bishops  commended  this  Institution  as 
"  having  been  established  by  the  whole  body  of  this 
Church  in  General  Convention,"  and  as  peculiarly 
demanding  "  the  concurrent  solicitudes  and  exer- 
tions to  be  centred  on  it,  of  all  its  members  ;  inas- 
much as  this  Institution,  when  possessing  the  com- 
bined and  efficient  support  of  the  whole  Church, 
must  be  the  most  effectual  means,  under  Provi- 
dence, of  perpetuating  the  unity  of  the  Church,  in 
the  bond  of  peace,"  The  supply  of  clergy  was 
still  insufficient.  The  Bishop  of  Ohio,  with  about 
$3000  in  his  hands,  for  nearly  two  years,  for  the  sup- 
port of  missionaries  in  his  jurisdiction,  had  not  been 
able  to  secure  them.  The  closing  of  the  Branch 
General  Theological  Seminary  at  Geneva,  Western 
]S^ew- York,  was,  notwithstanding,  recommended.  A 
joint  committee  of  inquiry  respecting  the  rela- 
tion of  the  Church  to  the  various  institutions  of 
learning  in  the  country,  were  further  instructed  to 
"report  on  the  practicability  of  establishing  a  sem- 
inary or  seminaries  for  the  education  of  3^outh, 
under  the  influence  and  authority  of  members  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Cliurch."  The  House  of 
Bishops  gave  their  "  opinion"  that  it  was  inexpe- 
dient "  to  send  a  delegate,  on  the  part  of  the 
Church  as  a  body,  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  same," 
as  desired  by  the  Board  of  Managers,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Colonization  Society,  the  objects  of  that  so- 
ciety being  deemed  by  the  Bishops  "  more  of  a  po- 
litical than  of  a  religious  nature,"  Among  other 
documents  relating  to  the  history  of  the  Churchy 


136        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Bishop  White  presented  a  volume  of  original  edi- 
tions of  the  Journals  of  General  Conventions,  1785- 
1814,  with  the  following  autograph  attestation  pre- 
fixed :  "  This  volume  is  the  only  entire  collection 
within  my  knowledge,  of  the  original  Journals  of 
the  General  Convention,  from  the  beginning,  for  the 
space  of  thirty  years.  It  may  be  of  use  in  deter- 
mining on  any  questions  which  may  arise,  concern- 
ing any  particular  of  the  republication  of  the  Jour- 
nals by  John  Bioren.  Accordingly  I  deposite  it 
with  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  General 
Convention,  for  the  collection  of  Journals."  * 

Upwards  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  clergy  are 
recorded  in  the  clergy  list. 

*  Tliis  interesting  volume  is  still  preserved  among  the  ar- 
chives of  the  Church,  at  present  in  the  keeping  of  the  author. 
Its  value  has  lately  been  proved  in  settling  the  question,  in  the 
absence  of  MS.  authority,  as  to  an  alleged  typographical  error 
in  the  2d  Article  of  the  Constitution.  Vide  Vinton's  Manual 
on  Canon  Law,  pp.  190,  191  ;  and  compare  Journal  of  Gen. 
Conv.,  1871,  pp.  22,  33,  34  In  the  recent  reissue  of  the  Gene- 
ral Convention  Journals,  published  under  the  authority  of  the 
Convention,  the  present  year  (1874),  this  volume  has  been  made 
use  of,  together  with  Bishop  White's  corrected  copy  of  Bioren's 
edition,  to  secure  a  perfect  text. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  137 


THE  CONYENTIOK  OF  1826. 

Mississippi  claimed  admission  at  the  Convention 
which  was  in  session,  November  7th  to  15th,  inclu- 
sive, in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia.  Fifteen 
dioceses  were  represented  by  forty-four  clerical 
deputies,  and  twelve  dioceses  by  thirty-one  laymen, 
while  seventy-five  clergymen  and  candidates  for 
orders,  not  members,  are  recorded  as  in  attendance 
at  this  session.  The  resolutions  introduced  by 
Bishop  Hobart,  with  the  design  of  securing  unifor- 
mity in  the  use  of  the  Ante-Commimion  Service, 
at  the  expense  of  a  slight  abbreviation  of  portions 
of  the  daily  prayer,  and  also  proposing  alternate 
forms  in  the  Confirmation  Office,  formed  a  marked 
feature  in  the  discussions  of  this  Convention. 
Their  importance  justifies  their  presentation  in  full. 

On  motion  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart,  resolved,  that 
the  House  of  Bishops  propose  the  following  preambles  and 
resolutions  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies: — 

The  House  of  Bishops,  deeply  solicitous  to  preserve  unim- 
paired the  Liturgy  of  the  Church,  and  yet  desirous  to  remove 
the  reasons  alleged,  from  the  supposed  length  of  the  service, 
for  the  omission  of  some  of  its  parts,  and  particularly  for  the 
omission  of  that  part  of  the  communion  oflBce,  which  is  com- 
monly called  the  ante-commvimon,  do  unanimously  propose  to 
the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  the  following  resolu- 
tions, to  be  submitted  to  the  several  State  Conventions,  in 
order  to  be  acted  upon  at  the  next  General  Convention,  agree- 
ably to  the  eighth  article  of  the  Constitution. 


138        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

1.  Resolved,  that  in  "  The  order  how  the  Psalter  is  appointed 
to  be  read,"  the  following  be  added  to  the  fourth  paragraph — 
"or  any  other  psalm  or  psalms,  except  on  those  days  on  which 
proper  psalms  are  appointed  :" — so  that  the  whole  paragraph 
will  read  as  follows  : — "  The  minister,  instead  of  reading  from 
the  Psalter  as  divided  for  daily  morning  and  evening  prayer, 
may  read  one  of  the  selections  set  out  by  this  Church,  or  any 
other  psalm  or  psalms,  except  on  those  days  on  which  *  proper 
psalms'  are  appointed," 

2.  Resolved,  that  in  ' '  The  order  how  the  rest  of  the  Holy 
Scripture  is  appointed  to  be  read,"  the  folio  whig  be  inserted 
after  the  fifth  paragraph: — "The  minister  may,  at  his  dis- 
cretion, instead  of  the  entire  lessons,  read  suitable  portions 
thereof,  not  less  than  fifteen  verses.  And  on  other  days  than 
Sundays  and  holy  days,  in  those  places  where  morning  and 
evening  prayer  is  not  daily  used,  he  may  read  other  portions  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament,  instead  of  the  prescribed  lessons  ; 
it  being  recommended  that,  unless  circumstances  render  it 
inexpedient,  on  the  stated  prayer-days  of  Wednesdays  and 
Fridays,  the  lessons  for  those  days,  or  for  one  of  the  inter- 
vening days,  be  read," 

The  Bishops,  in  the  use  of  the  office  of  Confirmation,  finding 
that  the  preface  is  frequently  not  well  suited  to  the  age  and 
character  of  those  who  are  presented  for  this  holy  ordinance, 
unanimously  propose  the  following  resolution : — 

3.  Resolved,  that  after  the  present  preface  in  the  office  of 
Confirmation,  the  following  be  inserted,  to  be  used  instead  of 
the  former,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Bishop:—"  It  appears  from 
holy  Scripture,  that  the  apostles  laid  their  hands  on  those  who 
were  baptized;  and  this  ordinance,  styled  by  the  Apostle 
Paul,  the  '  laying  on  of  hands,'  and  ranked  by  him  among  the 
principles  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  has  been  retained  in  the 
Church,  under  the  name  of  Confirmation;  and  is  very  con- 
venient, and  proper  to  be  observed,  to  the  end  that  persons 
being  sufficiently  instructed  in  what  they  promised,  or  what 
was  promised  for  them  in  their  baptism,  and  being,  in  other 
respects,  duly  qualified,  may  themselves,  with  their  own 
mouth  and  consent,  openly  before  the  Church,  ratify  and 
confirm  the  same,  and  also  promise,  that  by  the  grace  of  God, 
they  will  evermore  endeavor  themselves  faithfully  to  observe 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  139 

Buch  tilings  as  they,  by  their  own  confession,  have  assented 
unto." 

And  to  correct  the  injurious  misapprchcnisiou,  as  to  the 
meaning  of  certain  terras,  in  the  fir.it  CoUect  in  the  office  of 
Confirmation,  the  Bishops  unanimously  propose  the  following 
resolution : — 

4.  Resolved,  that  after  the  first  collect  in  the  office  of  Con- 
firmation, the  following  be  inserted,  to  be  used  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Bishop,  instead  of  the  first  collect,  "  Almighty 
and  everliving  God,  who  hast  vouchsafed,  in  baptism,  to 
regenerate  these  thy  servants,  by  water  and  the  Holy  Ghost  ; 
thus  giving  them  a  title  to  all  the  blessings  of  thy  covenant 
of  grace  and  mercy,  in  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  now  dost 
graciously  confirm  unto  them,  ratifying  the  promises  then 
made,  all  their  holy  privileges ;  grant  unto  them,  we  beseech 
thee,  O  Lord,  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  strengthen 
them  with  the  power  of  this  divine  Comforter ;  and  daily 
increase  in  them  thy  manifold  gifts  of  grace,  the  spirit  of 
wisdom  and  understanding,  the  spirit  of  counsel  and  ghostly 
strength,  the  spirit  of  knowledge  and  true  godliness,  and  fill 
them,  O  Lord,  with  the  spirit  of  thy  holy  f v  ar.  now  and  for 
ever.     Amem" 

And  whereas,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Bishops,  there  is  no 
doubt  as  to  the  obligation  of  ministers  to  say,  on  all  Sundays 
and  other  holy  days,  that  part  of  the  communion  office  which 
is  commonly  called  the  ante-communion,  yet  as  the  practice  of 
some  of  the  clergy  is  not  conformable  to  this  construction  of 
the  rubrick  on  this  point,  the  House  of  Bishops  propose  the 
following  resolution  : — 

5.  Mesohed,  that  the  following  be  adopted  as  a  substitute 
for  the  first  sentence  in  the  rubrick,  immediately  after  the 
communion  office  : — 

"  On  all  Sundays  and  other  holy  days,  shall  be  said,  all 
that  is  appointed  at  the  communion,  unto  the  end  of  the 
Gospel,  concluding  divine  service,  in  all  cases  when  there  is 
a  sermon  or  communion,  and  when  there  is  not,  with  the 
blessing." 

In  these  resolutions,  after  no  little  debate,  the 
House  of  Deputies  concurred.     It  should  be  noted, 


140        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

as  we  learn  from  Bishop  White,*  "  that  the  proposal 
for  abbreviation,  as  at  first  sent  by  the  Bishops, 
contained  the  limiting  of  the  use  of  the  Litany  to 
seasons  and  days  especially  appointed  for  humilia- 
tion. This  occasioned  so  great  a  sensation  in  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  that  the 
Bishops  tacitly  withdrew  their  communication  and 
then  presented  it  in  the  form  in  which  it  now 
appears  on  the  Journal." 

"  In  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies, 
there  were  not  a  few  of  the  objectors  who  would 
have  found  no  difl&culty  as  to  the  proposed  altera- 
tions in  the  service,  had  they  not  been  combined 
with  a  rubric,  considered  as  requiring  the  recital 
of  the  ante-communion  service  more  explicitly  than 
before.  There  was  an  endeavor  to  divide  the  two 
subjects;  but  this  was  impossible,  as  they  consti- 
tuted but  one  proposal  from  the  Bishops.  In 
consequence  of  the  adoption  of  the  whole  instru- 
ment, the  sense  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies  is  now  declared  in  favor  of  what  the 
Bishops  have  all  along  declared,  and  that  unani- 
mously, to  be  the  meaning  of  the  rubric,  pro- 
nounced by  so  many  to  be  dubious."  f 

In  the  House  of  Deputies  it  was 

Eesolved,  That  the  Psalms  and  Hymns  in  metre  are  not,  in 
the  opinion  of  this  House,  a  part  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  or  offices  of  the  Church.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that 
they  shall  be  of  authority  and  binding  until  duly  altered  or 
amended. 

*  Memoirs,  p.  52.       f  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  53. 


OF  THE  AMEKICAN   CHURCH.  141 

It  was  further  resolved  by  concurrent  vote, 

that  it  be  made  known  to  the  several  State  Conventions  of 
this  Church,  that  it  is  proposed  to  consider  of,  and  determine 
on,  at  the  next  General  Convention,  the  propriety  of  altering 
the  second  clause  of  the  eighth  article  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  Church,  by  adding  the  words,  or  the  articles  of  religion, 
after  the  words  "  other  offices  of  the  Church." 

The  object  of  this  was  to  place  the  "  Articles  of 
Religion  on  the  same  footing  with  the  Liturgy,  in 
respect  to  any  alterations  which  may  be  proposed."* 

A  single  canon  was  enacted,  requiring  three  years 
candidateship  previous  to  ordination.  Four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  names  appear  on  the  clergy  list. 

*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  55. 


14:2  THE  ge:neral  convention 


THE    CO:^ryENTION    OF  1829. 

Seventeen  dioceses,  represented  by  forty-seven 
clerical  deputies,  and  thirty-seven  lay  deputies,  from 
fifteen  dioceses,  with  nine  Bishops,  made  up  the 
Convention  of  1829,  which  met  in  St.  James's 
Church,  Philadelphia,  August  12th  to  20th,  inclu- 
sive. Of  the  clerical  deputies  composing  the  Low- 
er House,  nine  were  afterwards  raised  to  the  Epis- 
copate— A.  Potter,  B.  T.  Onderdonk,  Kemper,  Hop- 
kins, Johns,  Stone,  Cobbs,  Green  and  Gadsden. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Wyatt  was  chosen  President  of  the 
House  of  Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  T.  Onder- 
donk was  re-elected  Secretary,  with  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Cooper  Mead  as  his  assistant.  Two  new  dioceses, 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  were  admitted  into  union 
w^ith  the  Convention.  Yirginia  applied  for  the  con- 
secration of  the  Rev.  William  Meade,  D.D.,  as 
"  Assistant  or  Suffragan  Bishop."  A  difficulty,  in 
the  Avay  of  granting  this  request,  arose  from  an  ano- 
malous limitation  of  the  Episcopal  authority  of  the 
assistant  bishop  to  the  lifetime  of  the  Bishop  he 
was  to  aid.  After  a  prolonged  discussion,  the  tes- 
timonial was  signed,  with  a  declaratory  statement 
that  the  principle  involved  in  this  action  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Convention  was  "highly  inexpedient  and 
wholly  inadmissible.'' 

Article   8  of  the  Constitution  was  finallv  altered 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHUliCH.  143 

by  adding  the  words  or  the  Articles  of  Religion^ 
after  the  words  "  other  offices  of  the  Church."  The 
House  of  Deputies  requested  of  the  House  of  Bish- 
ops the  expression  of  their  opinion  as  to  the  proper 
postures  to  be  observed  in  the  Communion  Office, 
with  a  view  of  securing  uniformity  in  the  celebra- 
tion. 

The  changes  in  the  Liturgy,  introduced  by  Bish- 
op Hobart  in  1826,  having  been  ahnost  unanimously 
condemned  in  the  State  Conventions,  were,  on  the 
Bishop's  own  motion,  ''dismissed  from  the  conside- 
ration of  the  Convention."  The  "deficiency  in 
the  number  of  the  clergy"  occasioned  attention  and 
ehcited  resolutions  in  both  Houses  and  received  at- 
tention in  the  Pastoral  Letter  issued  by  the  bishops. 
Yermont  reported  with  respect  to  the  lands  for- 
merly belonging  to  the  venerable  Society  for  Prop- 
agating the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  "  that  all  the 
material  points  of  law  had  been  settled  in  favor  of 
the  Clmrch."  An  African  Mission  School,  to  pre- 
pare young  men  of  color  for  usefulness  in  the  col- 
ony at  Liberia,  had  been  established  (1828)  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.  In  Pennsylvania,  an  assistant  Bishop 
(H.  U.  Onderdonk,  D.D.)had  been  consecrated,  af- 
ter a  struggle  in  which  the  diocese  had  "  not  escaped 
its  share  of  the  agitation  usually  incident  to  the  man- 
agement of  elections,  whether  in  Church  or  State." 
Yirginia  reported  arrangements  for  the  permanent 
establishment  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
diocese.  The  establishment  of  scholarships  in  the 
General  Seminary  was  recommended  to  the  Church, 
and  the  sending  of  a  missionary  to  Liberia  advised. 


144  'lUE    GEXliUAL   CO>'VENTION 

The  copy-right  of  the  Hymns  served  to  render  a 
special  assessment  of  one  dollar  for  each  clergyman, 
for  the  expenses  of  the  Convention,  unnecessary. 
Seven  canons  were  passed,  meeting  the  case  of  mi- 
nisters coming  from  the  denominations ;  of  offenses  ; 
of  renunciations  of  the  ministry;  of  clerical  re- 
movals ;  of  assistant  bishops  ;  respecting  churches 
in  which  Divine  Service  is  celebrated  in  foreign 
languages;  and  of  parish  boundaries.  Over  five 
hundred  clergymen  were  reported  in  the  clergy  list. 


OF   THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  145 


THE   CONYENTIO]^    OF    1832. 

Thirteen  bishops,  iifty-one  clerical,  and  thirty- 
eight  lay  deputies,  representing  twenty-one  dioceses, 
made  up  the  Convention  of  1832,  which  convened 
in  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  Oc- 
tober 17th,  and  continued  in  session  until  October 
31st.  The  Kev.  Dr.  TTyatt  was  elected  President 
of  the  House  of  Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  An- 
thon,  Secretary.  Four  Bishops,  Hopkins,  B.  B. 
Smith,  Mcllvaine,  and  G.  W.  Doane,  received  con- 
secration at  its  close,  and  the  chief  interest  of  the 
session  centred  in  the  grave  question  which  arose, 
touching  the  resignation,  by  Bishop  Chase,  of  the 
Episcopate  of  Ohio. 

The  action  of  the  two  Houses  in  this  important 
matter  was  not  concurrent.  We  give  the  resolu- 
tion adopted  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  which,  wdth 
the  accompanying  "  protestation,"  failed  of  securing 
the  concurrence  of  the  House  of  Deputies  : 

Resolved,  As  the  sense  of  this  Convention,  that  tlie  Right 
Rev.  Philander  Chase,  considering  himself  to  have  resigned 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  having  removed  from 
that  State  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  renounced  the 
Episcopal  charge  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  an  exigency  of  the 
Church  in  that  Diocese  has  thus  been  occasioned,  and  has  exist- 
ed since  the  5th  of  September,  1832,  for  which  this  Convention 
see  no  way  in  which  provision  can  be  duly  made,  but  by  the 
consecration  of  another  Bishop  for  that  Diocese. 


146  THE    GENERATi   CO.NVENTIOX 

On  motion,  the  following  protestation  was  order- 
ed to  be  annexed  to  the  above  resolution,  viz. : 

The  House  of  Bishops  beg  leave  to  inform  the  House  of  Cler- 
ical and  Lay  Deputies,  that  in  adopting  the  foregoing  resolu- 
tion, they  feel  impelled  to  add  their  solemn  protestation  against 
its  being  drawn  into  a  precedent  on  any  future  occasion. 

The  Bishops  are  deeply  impressed  with  a  consideration  of 
the  evils  which  may  result  to  the  Church,  from  the  capricious 
and  unregulated  resignations  of  Episcopal  jurisdiction.  They 
are  of  opinion  that  the  acts  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Chase,  by 
which  he  has  relinquished  the  Episcopate  of  the  Diocese  of 
Ohio,  and  removed  to  a  territory  beyond  the  organized  jurisdic- 
tion of  this  Church,  are  not  warranted  by  any  regulation  of 
tlie  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  nor  by 
any  general  usage  of  the  Church  ;  yet,  inasmuch  as  they  hav(i 
been  performed  without  any  positive  law  of  this  Church  to  the 
contrary,  as  we  can  devise  no  way  of  reconciling  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Chase  and  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  and  as  the  House  of 
Bishops  are  earnestly  desirous  of  restoring  peace  to  that  Dio- 
cese, they  are  ready  to  concur  in  the  necessary  and  proper  mea- 
sures for  consecrating  a  successor  to  Bishop  Chase  in  the  Epis- 
copate of  Ohio. 

The  House  of  Bishops  hope  that  the  House  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies  will  concur  with  them  in  this  protestation,  and 
in  the  passage  of  a  Canon  prohibiting  Episcopal  resignations, 
except  on  great  and  urgent  occasions,  and  regulating  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  shall  be  made,  and  also  designating  the  ec- 
clesiastical body  to  whose  approval  they  shall  be  subjected. 

In  place  of  the  above,  the  House  of  Deputies 
adopted  the  following  resolutions  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Right  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  having  re- 
linquished and  abandoned  the  Episcopal  charge  of  the  Diocese 
of  Ohio,  and  removed  from  the  said  State,  this  House  does  con- 
sider the  Episcopate  of  Ohio  as  vacant.  And  whereas,  the 
Diocese  of  Ohio  having,  by  the  dereliction  of  the  said  Right 
Rev,  P.  Cliase,  been  deprived  of  Episcopal  services  since  the 
9th  day  of  September,  1831,  the  Convention  thereof  did,  on  the 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  l-iT 

7th  day  of  September,  1832,  by  a  majority  of  the  voices  of  the 
Clergy  and  of  the  Laity  duly  assembled,  nominate  and  elect  the 
Kev.  Charles  P.  Mcllvaine  as  Bishop  of  the  said  Diocese,  and 
the  testimonials  touching  the  said  election  have  been  duly  certi- 
fied to  this  House,  with  the  view  to  their  taking  the  necessary 
steps  toward  the  consecration  of  the  said  Rev,  C.  P.  Mcllvaine 
as  Bishop  of  Ohio,  agreeably  to  the  Canons  in  such  case  made 
and  provided  ;  and  whereas,  in  the  opinion  of  this  House,  the 
welfare  of  the  Church  requires  that  the  State  of  Ohio  should 
not  continue  longer  destitute  of  the  services  of  a  Bishop. 
Therefore — 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  now  proceed  to  consider  and 
sign  the  testimonials  in  behalf  of  the  Rev.  Charles  P.  McH- 
vaine,  as  Bishop  of  Ohio,  aforesaid. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  not  the  intention  of  this  House,  by  any 
proceeding  on  this  occasion,  to  sanction  the  principle  that  a 
Bishop  can  resign  of  his  own  will,  with  or  without  the  consent 
of  his  Diocese. 

The  result  in  both  Houses  was  the  same.  The 
testimonials  were  approved,  and  the  consecration  of 
Dr.  Mcllvaine  took  place.  The  Bishops  declined 
to  exercise  a  visitatorial  power  in  their  aggregate 
capacity,  with  respect  to  the  institutions  at  Gam- 
bier,  Ohio.  It  was  in  connection  with  the  four-fold 
consecration  at  this  Convention  that  the  followiner 
"  Rule  of  the  House  of  Bishops  "  was  adopted,  viz. : 


The  senior  Bishop  of  the  Church  present  at  any  general  Con- 
vention, is  the  presiding  Bishop  in  the  House  of  Bishops. 

The  senior  Bishop  of  this  Church  is  the  presiding  Bishop  for 
all  other  purposes  contained  in  the  Canons. 

The  senior  Bishop  of  this  Church  present  at  any  consecra- 
tion of  a  Bishop,  is  the  presiding  Bishop  for  that  solemnity. 

Seniority  among  the  Bishops  is  according  to  the  time  of  the 
consecration  of  each  Bishop. 

In  response  to  a  request  made  by  the  House  of 
Deputies  at  the  preceding  Convention,  the  Bishops 


148        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

placed  on  record,  and  ordered  to  be  communicated 
to  the  other  House,  their  opinion  as  to  the  proper 
postures  to  be  observed  in  the  celebration  of  the 
Hoi  J  Communion,  as  follows: 

The  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  having  at  the 
last  Convention  requested  the  House  of  Bishops  to  express 
their  opinion  as  to  the  proper  postures  to  be  used  in  the  Com- 
munion office,  with  a  view  of  effecting  uniformity  in  that  re- 
spect, during  its  celebration,  and  the  request  having  been  then 
ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  for  future  consideration,  the  House 
of  Bishops  now  communicated  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies  the  opinion  thus  requested  of  them,  as  follows  : 

First,  with  regard  to  the  officiating  priest,  they  are  of  opin- 
ion that  as  the  Holy  Communion  is  of  a  spiritually  sacrificial 
character,  the  standing  posture  should  be  observed  by  him, 
wherever  that  of  kneeling  is  not  expressly  prescribed,  to  wit  : 
in  all  parts,  including  the  ante-communion  and  post-commu- 
nion, except  the  confession,  and  the  prayer  immediately  pre- 
ceding the  prayer  of  consecration. 

Secondly,  with  regard  to  the  people,  the  Bishops  are  of  the 
opinion  that  they  should  observe  the  kneeling  posture  during 
all  the  prayers  and  other  acts  of  devotion,  except  the  Gloria  in 
excelsis,  when  standing  is  required  by  the  rubric,  and  except, 
also,  during  the  allowed  portion  of  the  Hymns  in  metre,  when 
the  analogy  of  our  services  requires  the  same  posture.  The 
same  analogy,  as  well  as  fitness  of  posture  for  the  succeeding 
private  devotions,  which  are  required  alike  by  propriety  and 
godly  custom,  supposes  kneeling  as  the  posture  in  which  to  re- 
ceive the  final  blessing. 

Analogy,  also,  and  the  expression  at  the  close  of  the  shorter 
exhortation  immediately  preceding  the  confession,  as  well  as 
the  rubric  before  the  confession,  which  suppose  the  posture  of 
kneeling  to  be  there  assumed,  indicate  that  that  exhortation, 
and  the  longer  one  immediately  preceding,  should  be  heard  by 
the  people  standing. 

The  postures,  therefore,  prooer  to  be  observed  by  the  peo- 
ple, during  the  Communion  office,  the  Bishops  believe  to  be  as 
follows  : 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  149 

Kneeling  during  the  whole  of  the  ante-communion,  except 
the  epistle  which  is  to  be  heard  in  the  usual  posture  for  hear- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  the  gospel,  which  is  ordered  to  be  heard 

standing.  .    . 

The  sentences  of  the  offertory  to  be  heard  sitting,  as  the  most 
favorable  posture  for  handing  alms,  etc.,  to  the  person  col- 

lectin^ 

Kneeling  to  be  observed  during  the  prayer  for  the  Church 

militant. 

Standing  during  the  exhortations. 

Kneeling  to  be  then  resumed,  and  continued  until  after  the 

prayer  of  consecration. 

^torK^in^' at  the  singing  of  the  hymn. 

Kneeling,  when  receiving  the  elements,  and  during  the  post- 
communion,  or  that  part  of  the  service  which  succeeds  the  de- 
livering and  receiving  of  the  elements,  except  the  Olona  in  ex- 
celm  which  is  to  be  said  or  sung  standing.  After  which  the 
congregation  should  again  kneel  to  receive  the  blessmg. 

The  House  of  Bishops  are  gratified  at  the  opportunity  afford- 
ed them  by  the  above  noticed  request  of  the  House  of  Clerical 
and  Lay  Deputies,  of  contributing  to  what  they  hope  will  be 
perfect  uniformity  in  all  our  churches  in  the  matter  now  before 
them. 

A  "declaration,"  correcting  an  error  in  one  of 
the  offices  of  the  Church  contained  in  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  was  adopted  by  the  'Bishops,  as 
follows : 

There  occurring  in  the  office  for  receiving  into  the  congrega- 
tion children  already  baptized,  according  to  the  form  of  private 
baptism,  the  following  question  to  the  Sponsors,  and  answer 
to  be  made  by  them,  viz.  : 

Minister.  Wilt  thou  be  baptized  in  this  faith  ? 

Ans.  That  is  my  desire. 
Which  mistake  doubtless  arose  from  inadvertency  the  House 
of  Bishops  hereby  declare  that  it  should  be  regard^  ^^  «^  '^^ 
same  footing  with  typographical  errors,  and  should  be  correct, 
ed  in  future  editions  of  the  Prayer  Book. 


150        THK  GENERAL  CONVENTIOX 

Two  changes  in  the  rubrics  of  the  Prayer  Book 
were  adopted  for  final  action  at  the  following  Con- 
vention, the  iiist  being  a  proposal  "  to  alter  the  Ru- 
bric before  tlie  '  Selections  of  Psalms,'  so  as  to 
read,  '  The  following  selections  of  Psalms,  or  any 
one  or  more  Psalms,  or  any  portions  of  the  119th 
Psalm  in  the  Psalter,  may  be  used  instead  of  the 
Psalms  for  the  day,  at  the  discretion  of  the  minis- 
ter.' And  that  the  fourth  paragraph  of  the  '  Or- 
der how  the  Psalter  is  appointed  to  be  read '  be 
erased.'  "  And  the  second,  "  to  alter  the  last  Ru- 
bric before  the  Communion  Service  by  substituting 
the  w^ord  '  right '  for  the  word  '  north.-  " 

It  was  also  ''  proposed  for  adoption  at  the  next 
General  Convention,  to  insert  the  following  Rubric 
after  the  '  Prayer  to  be  used  at  the  Meetings  of 
Convention :' 

"  During  the  period  of  the  session  of  any  General  or  Diocesan 
Convention,  the  above  prayer  may  be  used  by  all  congregations 
of  this  Church,  or  of  the  Diocese  concerned  ;  the  clause  '  here 
assembled  in  thy  name  and  presence '  being  changed  to  '  now 
assembled  in  thy  name  and  presence  ;'  and  the  clause,  '  govern 
u%  in  our  present  work'  to  'govern  them  ia  their  present 
work. ' 

And  it  was  further  proposed  for  adoption  at  the 
next  General  Convention  to  insert  the  said  Prayer 
and  Rubric  at  the  end  of  the  Prayers  upon  several 
occasions  to  be  used  before  the  two  iinal  prayers  of 
morning  and  evening  service." 

The  whole  body  of  the  Canons  w^as  revised,  and 
set  forth  with  alterations  and  amendments. 

The  Selections  from  the  Psalms  in  metre,  with 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHURCH.  151 

the  Hymns  still  bound  with  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  were  set  forth,  with  the  following  "  ratili- 


This  Book  of  Psalms  in  Metre,  selected  from  the  Psalms  of 
David,  with  Hymns,  is  set  forth  and  allowed  to  be  sung  in  all 
Congregations  of  the  said  Church,  before  and  after  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayer,  and  also  before  and  after  Sermons,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  minister. 

And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  minister  of  any  Church, 
either  by  standing  directions,  or  from  time  to  time,  to  appoint 
the  portions  of  Psalms  which  are  to  be  sung. 

And  further,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  minister,  with 
such  assistance  as  he  can  obtain  from  persons  skilled  in  music, 
to  give  order  concerning  the  tunes  to  be  sung  at  any  time  in 
his  Church.  And  especially,  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  suppress 
all  light  and  unseemly  music,  and  all  indecency  and  irreve- 
rence in  the  performance,  by  which  vain  and  ungodly  persons 
profane  the  service  of  the  Sanctuary. 

Alabama  and  Michigan  were  admitted  into  union 
with  the  Convention. 

A  proposed  amendment  of  Article  2  of  the  Con- 
stitution was  indefinitely  postponed.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  amend  the  article  as  follows  : 

Article  II. 

The  Church  in  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  a  representa- 
tion of  both  the  Clergy  and  the  Laity,  which  representation 
shall  consist  of  txco  or  more  deputies,  not  exceeding  tenoi  each 
order,  chosen  by  the  Convention  of  the  State,  according  to  the 
following  ratio  :  Every  Diocese  shall  he  entitled  to  one  Clerical 
and  one  Lay  Deputy ;  and  to  one  additional  Clerical  Deputy 
for  every  eight  Clergymen  actually  residing  in  such  Diocese;  and 
to  one  additional  Lay  Deputy  for  every  twelv?,  parishes  belonging 
to  the  Convention  of  the  same;  and  in  all  questions,  when  re- 
quired by  the  Clerical  and  Lay  representation  from  any  State, 
the  decimn  shall  be  by  orders  ;   and  a  majority  of  each  order 


152        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

shall  he  necessary  to  constitute  a  vote  of  the  Hoiise.     If  the  Con- 
vention of  any  State  should  neglect,  or  decline  to  appoint,  etc. 

A  French  translation  of  the  Prayer  Book  was  ap- 
proved and  made  the  "  Standard."  A  canon  on 
Episcopal  resignations  was  adopted. 

A  special  canon,  authorizing  the  formation  of  a 
South-western  diocese,  consisting  of  the  dioceses  of 
Mississippi  and  Alabama,  with  the  clergy  and 
churches  of  Louisiana,  was  passed  by  both  Houses. 
Nearly  six  hundred  clergymen  are  reported  as  min- 
istering at  the  altars  of  the  Church,  and  the  Jour- 
nal, for  the  first  time,  has  a  set  of  tables,  giving  ab- 
stracts of  the  diocesan  reports. 


OF   THE   AMEKICAN    CHURCH.  153 


THE   CONYENTIOIsr   OF  1835. 

The    Convention   of   1835,   which   met    in    St. 
Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia,  from  August  19th  to 
September  1st,  inclusive,  ranks  among  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  Conventions,  whether  we  regard  the 
far-sighted  wisdom  of  its  enactments  or  the  broad 
principles   underlying    every   marked   decision    to 
which  it  arrived.     Fourteen  bishops  and   one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  deputies,  sixty-nine  clerical  and 
fifty-one  lay,  representing  twenty-one  dioceses  (all, 
in  fact,  but  one,  Mississippi),  composed  this  body. 
The  Pev.  Dr.  Wyatt  was  re-elected  President,  and 
the  Pev.  Dr.  Anthon,  Secretary  of  the  House  of 
Deputies.     Tlie  venerable  Bishop  White  presided 
in  the  House  of  Bishops.      Illinois,  with  the  Pt. 
Pev.  Philander  Chase,  D.D.,  as  its  Bishop,  was  re- 
ceived into  union.     Louisiana  and  Indiana,  apply- 
ing for  the  same,  were  refused,  in  neither  case  hav- 
ing a  sufficient  number  of  clergy  or  churches  to 
warrant  a  diocesan  organization.     The  Constitution 
of  the  Board  of   Missions  was  established,  making 
every  baptized  member  of  the  Church  a  member  of 
its  missionary  organization.      Provision  was  made 
for  Missionary  Bishops,  and  for  the  division  of  dio- 
.ceses.      Pev.  Di.  Kemper  was  elected  Missionary 
Bishop  of  the  North-west,  and  Dr.  HawkB  for  the 
Soutli-west.    A  German  version  of  the  Prayer  Book 


154:  'i'HE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

was  authorized.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  was  ap- 
pointed conservator  of  the  historical  documents  of 
the  Church,  and  his  personal  gift  of  a  large  and  val- 
uable collection  of  illustrative  matter  of  this  nature 
is  placed  on  record.  The  discontinuance  of  the  use 
of  the  Collect  and  Lord's  Prayer  before  the  sermon 
was  recommended,  and  the  people  were  advised  to 
say  with^  instead  of  aftei'  the  minister,  the  Confes- 
sion. The  Committee  of  the  Bishops  (Griswold, 
Brownell,  and  Otey),  who  made  this  recommenda- 
tion, added  the  following  expression  of  their 
opinion : 

It  is  also  the  opinion  of  your  Committee  that,  in  those  parts 
of  the  Liturgy  in  which  the  minister  and  people  unite  in  say- 
ing the  whole,  as  in  the  Confessions,  the  Creeds,  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  the  Gloria  in  excelsis,  the  Trisagion,  and  the  last 
Prayer  for  Ash- Wednesday,  the  word  "Amen"  should  be 
printed  in  Roman  letters,  and  the  minister  unite  with  the  peo- 
ple in  saying  it  ;  and  that  in  all  cases  where  the  word  "Amen" 
is  the  response  of  the  people  to  what  the  minister  alone  says, 
it  should  be  printed  in  italics. 

An  effort  to  secure  the  republication  of  the  jour- 
nals of  the  early  Conventions  was  inaugurated,  and 
a  committee  appointed  to  procure  the  publication 
of  an  edition  of  the  Bible  according  to  tlie  "  Stand- 
ard." A  plan  of  a  General  Education  Society  was 
•discussed,  and  its  further  consideration  postponed. 
The  details  of  the  plan  are  spread  upon  the  pages 
of  the  appendix  of  the  Journal.  Provision  was 
made  for  the  division  of  the  larger  dioceses,  and 
an  alteration  of  the  second  article  of  the  Constitu- 
tion proposed  for  subsequent  approval.  There  was 
also  x^rovision  made  for  the  consecration  of  foreign 


OF   THK    AMEKICAN    CHURCH.  155 

missionary  bisliopS;  when  such  a  measure  should  be 
deemed  expedient.  Measures  were  taken  for  se- 
curing a  version  of  the  Prayer  Book  in  G-erman. 
The  proposal  of  the  last  General  Convention  to  alter 
the  rubric  before  "  The  Selection  of  Psalms  "  was 
not  adopted,  but  the  change  in  the  rubric  before 
the  Communion  Office,  substituting  the  word 
"  right "  for  "  north^''  w^as  made  by  concurrent  vote. 
Seven  himdred  and  sixty-three  clergymen  were  re- 
ported, and  the  closing  act  of  the  House  of  Bishops 
was  to  place  on  its  minutes  a  record  of  grateful  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  "  presence  and  counsel  of  the 
venerable  presiding  Bishop,"  then  eighty-four  years 
old,  and  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  Episcopate. 


15G  THE  genp:kal  convkntiox 


THE   CONYEKTION   OF   1838. 

Bishop  Griswold  presided  in  tlie  House  of  Bish- 
ops at  the  Convention  which  met  in  St.  Peter's 
Church,  Philadelphia,  from  September  6th  to 
September  17th,  inclusive,  1838.  The  father  of 
the  American  Episcopacy  in  the  English  line, 
the  venerable  William  White,  D.D.,  Bishop  of 
Pennsylvania,  had  passed  away  during  the  inter- 
val between  this  and  the  last  Convention.  Sixteen 
bishops  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-live  deputies, 
seventy-live  clerical  and  sixty  lay,  composed  the 
Convention,  which  continued  in  session  for  eleven 
days.  Three  dioceses,  Indiana,  Florida,  and  Louis- 
iana were  admitted.  Bishop  Polk  was  nominated 
to  the  Missionary  Bishopric  of  the  South-west.  The 
division  of  the  diocese  of  New-York  was  ratified, 
the  constitutional  amendment  providing  for  the 
division  of  dioceses,  proposed  at  the  last  Convention, 
having  been  formally  approved.  The  words,  "  Un- 
less the  Table  gives  some  day  in  the  month  of 
March  for  it,  for  in  that  case  the  day  given  by  the 
Table  is  the  right  day,"  were  added  to  the  note  on 
the  Table  of  Movable  Feasts,  notice  of  the  pro- 
posed addition  having  been  made  known  as  the 
canons  required.  The  republication  of  the  journals 
of  previous  conventions  with  the  Pastoral  Letters 
was  again  urged.     The  diocese  of  New-Hampshire 


OF   THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  157 

had  permission  to  withdraw  from  the  Eastern  dio- 
cese. A  proposition  to  make  the  time  of  meeting 
of  General  Convention  once  in  seven  years  was  laid 
on  the  table.  A  proposed  alteration  of  Article  6  of 
the  Constitution,  in  relation  to  the  mode  of  trying 
clergymen,  was  laid  over  for  consideration  at  the 
next  meeting.  The  whole  subject  of  ecclesiastical 
trials  w^as  referred  to  a  joint  committee.  Both 
Houses  placed  on  record  expressions  of  their  grate- 
ful memory  of  the  long  and  faithful  services,  the 
piety,  purity,  and  moderation  of  the  late  Bishop 
White.  The  necessity  of  the  requirement  of  letters 
dimissory  from  clergymen  coming  from  abroad 
was  brought  before  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  the 
presiding  bishop  instructed  to  enter  into  correspond- 
ence with  the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and 
Armagh,  the  Prhnus  of  Scotland,  and  the  Colonial 
Bishops,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  concert  of 
action  in  this  matter.  The  Convention  adopted  as 
a  "  standard  "  a  stereotyped  edition  of  the  Prayer 
Book  published  in  Philadelphia.  It  also  enacted 
the  following  rules  to  be  observed  in  printing  all 
future  editions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
namely : 

I.  The  words,  "Let  us  pray,"  to  be  always  printed  in  the 
same  type  with  the  prayers. 

II.  The  word  "Amen,"  to  be  printed  in  the  Roman  charac- 
ter, besides  in  the  cases  mentioned  in  the  action  of  +he  House 
of  Bishops,  as  recorded  in  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings  of 
that  House,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1835,  in  the  following  cases, 
namely  : 

1,  After  the  baptismal  act,  "  N.  I  baptize  thee,"  etc.,  in  each 
of  the  baptismal  services. 


158        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

2.  After  the  sentence  in  the  marriage  t^ervice,  commencing, 
"  With  this  ring,"  etc. 

3.  After  the  sentence  in  the  same  service,  commencing,  "For 
as  much  as  M.  and  N.,"  etc. 

4.  After  the  sentence  pronounced  by  the  Bishop,  at  the  lay- 
ing on  of  hands  in  the  ordination  of  Deacons  and  Priests. 

It  being  understood  by  this  Convention,  that  the  vrord 
* '  Amen,"  in  the  above  cases,  is  not  properly  a  response,  but 
proper  to  be  used  only  by  the  party  required  to  say  the  words 
to  which  it  is  attached. 

III.  The  rubric  in  the  Institution  Office,  commencing  with 
the  words,  "  If  any  objection,"  etc.,  to  be  pi  lifted  in  three  para- 
graphs, as  follows  : 

"  If  any  objection,"  etc.,  to  the  word  "  service." 

"  No  objection,"  etc.,  to  the  word  "  institution." 

"  And  then  shall,"  etc.,  to  the  end. 

And  whereas,  there  is  a  difference  in  different  editions  of  the 
Prayer  Book,  in  the  mode  of  printing  the  word  Amen,  after  the 
words  used  by  the  Bishop  at  the  laying  on  of  hands  in  confirm- 
ation, therefore, 

Resolved,  As  the  sense  of  this  Convention,  that  in  this  case 
the  word  "Amen"  should  be  printed  in  the  Italic  character, 
as  being  properly  a  response. 

The  Eev.  Drs.  S.  F.  Jarvis  and  F.  L.  Hawks 
were  appointed  Ilistoriograpliers,  and  the  report  of 
the  latter,  detailing  his  successful  efforts  in  England 
in  securing  transcrij)ts  of  important  documents  from 
the  archives  at  Lambeth,  Fulliam,  and  the  office  of 
the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  is  placed  in  the  appendix.  Canons  requiring 
a  delay  of  six  months  before  the  admission  of  minis- 
ters of  the  denominations,  and  prohibiting  a  e-r^di- 
date  for  orders  from  accenting  the  office  of  deputy 
to  Convention,  were  passed.  Nine  hundred  and 
fifty-one  clergy  were  reported  in  the  clergy  list. 


OF   THE   AMEBIC  AN   CHURCH.  159 


CONVENTION   OF  1841. 

In  1841  the  Convention  met  in  New-York,  in 
St.  Paul's  Chapel,  and  continued  in  session  from 
October  6th  to  October  19th,  inclusive.  The 
House  of  Bishops  contained  twenty-one  members. 
Twenty-seven  dioceses  were  represented.  One 
liundred  and  thirty-six  deputies  were  in  attendance, 
seventy-nine  clerical  and  fifty-seven  lay.  Bishop 
Griswold  presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Wyatt  was  re-elected  President,  and  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Anthon,  Secretary  of  the  House  of  De- 
puties. The  latter  shortly  gave  place  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  William  Cooper  Mead.  Western  New-York 
sent  its  first  deputation,  and  Missouri  was  admit- 
ted into  union.  At  this  session  Bishop  Lee,  of 
Delaware,  received  consecration,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
John  A.  Yaughan  was  elected  to  the  foreign  Mis- 
sionary Bishopric  of  Cape  Palmas,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Nicholas  H.  Cobbs  to  the  Episcopate  of  Texas. 
Neither  appointment  was  consummated.  Canons 
respecting  absentee  clergymen,  the  election  of  a 
Missionary  Bishop  to  a  diocesan  Episcopate,  the 
trial  of  Bishops,  foreign  clergymen  desiring  to 
ofliciate  in  our  church,  and  a  Treasurer,  were  enact- 
ed. The  duty  of  providing  more  ample  free  sit- 
tings, in  view  of  the  rapid  increase  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  country,  was  urged  upon  the  Church  by 


160        THE  GEXEKAL  CONVENTION 

concurrent  vote.  For  the  iirst  time  a  memorial 
was  presented  opposing  the  admission  of  two  of  the 
clerical  deputies  from  oS^ew-York  to  seats,  in  con- 
sequence of  alleged  informalities  attending  the 
election ;  but  this  claim  was  disallowed,  as  was  also 
some  objection  urged  against  the  deputies  from  Del- 
aware. The  question  of  requiring  one  year's  proba- 
tion, or  instead,  six  months,  on  the  part  of  candidates 
for  orders,  who  had  been  "  ministers,  or  licentiates 
or  students  of  theology,  among  other  religious  de- 
nominations," occasioned  no  little  discussion,  and 
gave  rise  to  a  majority  and  minority  report  from 
the  Committee  on  Canons,  the  former  advocating 
the  longer,  and  the  latter  the  shorter  term.  We 
append  extracts  from  each : 

The  existing  state  and  circumstances  of  that  branch  of  the 
Church  Catholic  to  which  we  belong,  in  connection  with  the 
present  religious  condition  of  our  country,  your  committee  be- 
lieve, with  very  many  of  their  brethren,  the  Bishops,  the 
clergy,  and  the  laity,  imperatively  require  increasing  careful- 
ness and  caution  in  the  admission  of  persons  to  her  ministry, 
if  its  purity  is  to  be  maintained,  and  its  greater  efficiency  se- 
cured. And  while  they  think  such  carefulness  and  caution 
essential  in  the  case  of  candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  born, 
nurtured,  and  educated  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church,  they  can 
not  but  regard  the  same  as  especially  and  urgently  demanded 
in  the  case  of  those  aspiring  to  her  ministry,  who,  up  to  a  com- 
paratively recent  period,  have  belonged  to  religious  denomina- 
tions whose  attitude  and  action  are  adverse  to  our  doctrines, 
discipline  and  worship,  and  who  have,  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
period,  officiated  as  ministers  among  such  denominations. 
One  year,  they  believe,  can  not  be  reasonably  regarded  as  an 
unnecessary  term  of  probation,  nor  more  than  requisite  to  en- 
able the  constituted  authorities  of  the  Church  to  obtain  such 
knowledge  of  the  character  and  conduct,  the  spirit,  temper, 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  IGl 

and  qualifications  of  such  candidates,  and  their  general "  apt- 
ness and  meetness  to  exercise  the  ministry  duly  to  the  honor  of 
God  and  the  edifying  of  the  Church,"  as  shall  secure  her  from 
the  intrusion  of  unworthy,  pragmatical,  or  inefficient  persons. 
And  less  time,  they  humbly  conceive,  would  scarcely  be  suffi- 
cient to  afford  an  opportunity  to  such  candidates  themselves,  to 
form  a  right  estimate  of  the  motives  and  principles  which  induce 
an  ecclesiastical  change  of  such  vital  importance,  and  lead  them 
to  seek  admission  into  the  ministry  of  a  Church,  whose  pecu- 
liar claims  they  may  have  hitherto,  and  all  their  lives  long, 
been  taught  to  repudiate,  and  whose  distinctive  principles  and 
mode  of  worship  they  may  have  more  or  less  regarded,  and  per- 
haps in  common  with  a  majority  of  those  whom  they  abandon, 
stigmatized  as  serioua  and  dangerous  errors. 

The  minority  of  tlie  Committee,  the  Rev.  Drs. 
George  Burgess  and  Francis  H.  Cuming,  and  Mr. 
Archer  Gifl'ord,  expressed  themselves 

constrained  to  oppose  the  proposed  change  in  the  Canon,  as  it 
involves  a  great  change  in  the  policy  which  has  been  hitherto 
obserA^ed,  both  in  the  Church  of  England  and  in  this  Church, 
with  regard  to  the  admission  of  separatists  from  its  com- 
munion. That  policy,  in  their  judgment,  has  always  been,  to 
1  ndjr  the  way  of  return  easy  and  honorable.  It  has  raised  no 
unnere.ssary  obstacle,  required  no  painful  humiliation  ;  but 
opened,  to  their  widest  extent,  every  gate  of  the  sanctuary.  It 
was  founded  on  the  rule  that,  as  we  have  freely  received,  so 
shall  we  freely  give,  and  on  the  principle  that  secondary  con- 
siderations, however  serious,  should  never  outweigh  so  vast  a 
blessing  as  unity.  To  this  policy  the  Church  has  probably 
owed  many  of  its  best  servants,  who  have  come  in  from  the 
ranks  of  dissent ;  such,  in  England,  as  Reynolds  and  Tillotson, 
Seeker  and  Butler  ;  such,  in  America,  as  many  of  its  most 
valued  clergy,  and  more  than  one  of  its  most  revered  prelates. 
The  undersigned  can  not  think  that  it  is  wise  to  change  this 
policy  now,  when  an  immense  harvest  calls  for  laborers,  and 
multitudes  without  the  Church  need  little  more  than  an  invita- 
tion and  an  opportunity  to  enter.  A  delay  of  six  months  is  suffi- 
cient security  againet  eudden,  fickle,  or  premature  action.     To 


162        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

require  a  longer  delay,  without  any  reference  to  qualifications, 
would  seem  to  declare  that  the  Church  wished  to  impose  a 
penance  or  penalty  upon  this  class  of  candidates,  or  else,  that 
she  would  gladly  exclude  them  always.  And  if  it  be  import- 
ant that  they  who  preach  the  Gospel,  should  preach  it  under 
the  Apostolic  commission,  the  undersigned  can  not  conceive 
how  that  commission  can  be  withheld  systematically  for  any 
period,  not  absolutely  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  Church  ; 
withheld  from  a  whole  class  of  men,  as  such,  without  the 
slightest  regard  to  their  individual  qualifications,  except  at  the 
hazard  of  incurring  a  responsibility  so  awfully  serious,  that 
they  are  unwilling  to  share  it.* 

Bishop  Polk  was  nominated  by  the  House  of 
Bishops  to  the  Episcopate  of  Louisiana,  agreeably 
to  the  request  of  that  diocese  that  the  General  Con- 
vention should  elect  its  bishop  ;  in  which  action  of  the 
Bishops,  the  House  of  Deputies  unanimously  con- 
curred. The  spiritual  condition  of  the  Jews  receiv- 
ed attention,  and  the  Board  of  Missions  were  urged 
"  to  mature  and  adopt  such  measures  as  may  be  pro- 
j)er  for  bringing  them  to  the  unity  of  the  faith,  the 
bosom  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  the  saving  know- 
ledge of  the  Messiah."  It  was  proposed  for  iinal 
action  at  the  next  Convention  ''  to  erase  the  words 
'  Associated  Eector,'  and  also  the  word  '  State,' 
wherever  they  occur  in  former  editions  of  the  In- 
stitution office."  It  was  also  proposed  for  similar 
final  action  to  add  a  tenth  article  to  the  Consti- 
tution respecting  the  consecration  of  Bishops  for 
foreign  countries.  The  cause  of  Cliristian  educa- 
tion in  connection  with  the  institutions  of  the  Cliurch 
was  recommended  to  the  various  dioceses.     Majority 

*  Journal  of  Convention,  1841,  pp.  67-70. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  163 

and  minority  reports  on  the  subject  of  marriages 
prohibited  by  the  law  of  God — the  former  (Bishops 
Griswold  and  Brownell)  adverse  to  legislation  ;  the 
latter  (Bp.  H.  U.  Onderdonk)  proposing  the  enact- 
ment of  the  English  table  of  prohibition,  and  the 
penalty  of  suspension  of  from  two  to  seven  years  of 
the  officiating  clergyman  in  cases  of  violation — were 
ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes.*  The  intro- 
ductory volume  of  Ecclesiastical  History  prepared 
by  the.  Kev.  Dr.  Samuel  Farmar  Jarvis,  Historio- 
grapher, was  approved  and  commended  by  the 
Bishops  to  the  patronage  of  the  Church.  A  registrar 
of  the  House  of  Bishops  was  appointed.  Further 
efforts  were  reported  for  securing  a  republication 
of  the  journals  of  previous  Conventions  with  the 
Canons  and  other  documents.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  report  a  standard  Prayer  Book,  and  in- 
structed to  restore  certain  words  omitted  in  the  In- 
stitution office.  A  proposed  Canon  ^'  Of  Deacons 
not  licensed  to  Preach,"  was  referred  to  the  next  Con- 
vention. The  correspondence  between  the  presid- 
ing Bishop,  and  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and 
other  foreign  prelates,  was  reported  to  the  House 
of  Bishops,  and  the  letters  from  abroad  are  cha- 
racterized as  exhibiting  "  a  spirit  of  truly  Christian 
love,"  ^'  and  the  readiest  mind  to  co-operate  with  this 
Church  in  the  maintenance  of  Catholic  unity,  and 
of  all  necessary  securities  in  reference  to  the  passing 
and  repassing  of  the  clergy  of  the  several  churches 
for  purposes  of  settlement."  The  number  of  the 
clergy  was  now  one  thousand  and  fifty-two. 
*  Vide  pp.  90,  91  of  tlie  Journal. 


164        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONYENTIOX   OF  1844. 

The  Convention  of  1844  met  in  Philadelphia  in 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  and  continued  in  session  from 
the  2d  to  the  22d  of  October,  inclusive.  Twenty- 
four  Bishops,  with  ninety-three  clerical  and  eighty- 
four  lay  deputies,  were  in  attendance.  The  Kev. 
Dr.  Wyatt  was  re-elected  President  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Cooper  Mead, 
Secretary.  Bishop  Philander  Chase  was  now  pre- 
siding in  the  House  of  Bishops.  In  the  words  of 
the  late  Bishop  Burgess,  of  Maine :  "  The  recent 
resignation  and  the  suspension  of  one  Bishop,*  the 
overhanging  rumors  which  foreboded  the  trial  and 
suspension  of  another;  the  personal  discussion 
which  arose  out  of  the  election  to  the  Episcopate 
of  Mississippi ;  the  effort  to  procure  a  declaration 
against  the  doctrine  of  the  Oxford  Tracts ;  the 
consecration  of  Bishops  Chase  of  New-Hampshire^ 
Cobbs  and  Hawks  ;  the  nomination  of  the  Mission- 
ary Bishops,  Freeman,  Southgate,  and  Boone ;  the 
renewed,  but  still  unsuccessful  attempt,  to  require 
a  longer  delay  before  the  ordination  of  ministers 
from  other  denominations  ;  the  inquiry  into  the 
state  of  tlie  General  Theological  Seminary ;  and 
the  adoption,  not  without  controversy,  of  the  prin- 

•  The  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  U.  Onderdonk,  D.D.,  of  Pennsylvania. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCir.  105 

ciple  of  an  unlearned  Diaconate  in  certain  cases ; 
all  concurred  to  make  this  the  busiest  and  the  most 
exciting  of  all  our  General  Conventions.     In  its 
legislation  it  was  guided  by  the  occasions  which 
had,  unhappily,  sprung  up,  and  its  close  was  follow- 
ed by  the  most  memorable  of  all  the  judicial  pro- 
ceedings of  any  ecclesiastical  tribunal  in  this  land."* 
The  eloquent  defense  made  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  F.  L. 
Hawks,  the  able  and  exhaustive  debate  on  the  Ox- 
ford movement,  the  adoption  of  the  present  Stan- 
dard Prayer  Book,  and  the  missionary  spirit  of  the 
Convention,  were  noticeable  features  in  this  event- 
ful and  lengthy  session.     The  mover  of  a  resolu- 
tion, "  That  the  style  and  title  of  the  Church  repre- 
sented in  this  General  Convention,  is  the  '  Protes- 
tant  Episcopal   Church   in   the   United   States  of 
America '  ;   and   that   the  practice  of  omitting  its 
true  appellation  in  printed  documents,  or  of  substi- 
tuting any  other,  is  derogatory  to  the  Protestant 
character  of  our  Church,  and  of  evil  tendency," 
offered  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  session,  had  leave 
to  withdraw  the  same.    Several  presbyters  laboring 
as  missionaries  in  the  Republic  of  Texas  asked  for 
"  such  Episcopal  supervision  as  is  enjoyed  by  mis- 
sionary districts  in  the  United  States."     A  carefid 
collation  of  the  English  and  American  Prayer  Books 
was  suggested  by  the  Diocese  of  South-Carolina  to 
the  Convention.     The  joint  committee  appointed 
to  secure  the  republication  of  the  Journals  of  the 
Convention  reported  the  failure  of  their  efforts,  and 

*  The  trial  of  Bishop  B.  Tr  Onderdonk,  of  New- York. 


166  tup:  general  convention 

were  discliargecl.  The  addition  of  Art.  10  to  th» 
Constitution  was  ratified  and  coniirnied.  The 
various  steps  of  the  action  of  the  House  of  Deputies 
on  the  subject  of  the  Oxford  movement  we  give  in 
full  : 

Fifth  Day's  Session,  Oct.  7. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  offered  : 

Whereas,  in  the  estimation  of  many  ministers  and  members 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  seri- 
ous error.s  of  doctrine  have,  within  a  few  years,  been  intro- 
duced and  extensively  promulgated,  by  means  of  tracts, 
through  the  periodical  press,  and  from  the  pulpit  ;  and  where- 
as it  is  important,  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and  purity 
of  the  Church,  that  such  errors,  if  existing,  should  be  met, 
and  as  far  as  practicable  removed,  by  the  action  of  this  Con- 
vention. 

Be  it  therefore  Resolved,  if  the  House  of  Bishops  concur. 
That  it  is  desirable  to  prepare  and  promulgate  a  clear  and  dis- 
tinct expression  of  the  opinions  entertained  by  this  Convention 
respecting  the  Rule  of  Faith,  the  Justification  of  Man,  the 
nature,  design,  and  efficacy  of  the  Sacraments,  and  such  other 
matters  as,  in  view  of  the  foregoing  circumstances,  may  be 
deemed  expedient  by  the  House  of  Bishops. 

Be  it  further  Resolved,  That  it  is  desirable  that  such  expres- 
sion of  opinion  should  originate  in  the  House  of  Bishops,  and 
receive  the  concurrent  action  of  this  House,  and  that  the  House 
of  Bishops  be  requested  to  take  action  accordingly. 

The  following  was  offered  as  an  amendment  to  the  above 
rer^olutions  : 

Whereas  differences  of  opinion  on  subjects  deemed  of  grave 
importance  exist  among  the  members  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  of  the  United  States  :  and  whereas  it  is  believed 
that  there  is  common  ground  upon  which  those  thus  differing 
may  meet  in  harmony  and  love,  as  members  of  our  branch  of 
the  One  Holy,  Catholic,  and  Apostolic  Church  : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  be  respect- 
fully requested  to  make  a  subject  of  their  godly  counsel  and 
advice,  in  their  Pastoral  Letter,  the  great  principles  which  dis- 


OF   THE   AMEiaCAN    CHURCU.  167 

tiuguisli  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  on  the  one  hand, 
from  the  corruptions  of  Rome  ;  and  on  the  other,  from  the 
other  errors  of  sectarianism. 

Pending  the  discussion  on  the  above  resolutions  and  amend- 
ment, the  House  adjourned. 

Seventh  Day's  Sessiox,  Oct.  9. 

On  motion,  The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
resolutions  and  amendment,  relating  to  the  supposed  intro- 
duction of  errors  of  doctrine  in  the  Church,  and  their  promul- 
gation by  means  of  tracts,  etc. 

The  following  amendment  to  the  amendment  was  ofEered  : 

Whereas,  The  minds  of  many  of  the  members  of  this  Church 
throughout  its  union,  are  sorely  grieved  and  perplexed,  by  the 
alleged  introduction  among  them  of  serious  errors  in  doctrine 
and  practice,  having  their  origin  in  certain  writings,  emanating 
chiefly  from  members  of  the  University  of  Oxford  in  England  ; 
and  whereas,  it  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  the  minds  of 
such  persons  should  be  calmed,  their  anxieties  allayed,  and 
the  Church  disabused  of  the  charge  of  holding,  in  her  Articles 
and  Offices,  doctrines  and  practices  consistent  with  all  the 
views  and  opinions  expressed  in  said  Oxford  writings,  and 
should  thus  be  freed  from  a  responsibility  which  does  not 
properly  belong  to  her  :  Therefore  — 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  be  respectfully  request- 
ed to  communicate  with  this  House  on  this  subject,  and  to  take 
such  order  thereon,  as  the  nature  and  magnitude  of  the  evil 
alluded  to  may  seem  to  them  to  require. 

The  discussion  of  the  said  resolutions  and  amendments 
being  suspended — 

The  House  adjourned. 

Eighth  Day's  Session,  Oct.  10. 

On  motion.  The  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the 
resolutions  and  amendments,  relating  to  the  supposed  intro- 
duction of  errors  of  doctrine  in  the  Church,  and  their  promul- 
gation by  means  of  tracts,  etc. 


1G8        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION  ^ 

Whereupon  the  following  resolution  was  offered  : 
Resolved,  That  this  House  will  proceed  at  12  o'clock  M.  this 
day,  without  further  debate,  to  take  the  question  by  yeas  and 
nays  on  the  resolutions  submitted,  in  relation  to  the  differences 
of  opinion  existing  in  the  Church,  and  on  the  several  amend- 
ments proposed  thereto. 

To  which  resolution  the  following  amendment  was  offered  : 
Resolved,  That  the  consideration  of  the  said  resolutions  and 
amendments  be  postponed,  and  made  the  special  order  of  the 
day  for  to-morrow,  at  half-past  12  p.m. 

On  motion.  Ordered,  That  the  said  resolution  and  amend- 
ment be  laid  on  the  table. 

The  discussion  of  the  said  resolutions  and  amendments 
being  suspended — 

******* 

The  House  adjourned. 

TiiiiiTEEXTH  Day's  Session,  Oct.  16. 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  the  special  order  of  the  day  be 
suspended  to  take  up  the  consideration  of  the  resolutions  and 
amendments,  relating  to  the  supposed  introduction  of  errors 
of  doctrine  in  the  Church,  and  their  promulgation  by  means  of 
tracts,  etc. 

The  following  substitute  for  the  said  resolutions  and 
amendments  was  offered  : 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  con- 
sider the  Liturgy,  Offices  and  Articles  of  the  Church  sufficient 
exponents  of  her  sense  of  the  essential  doctrines  of  Holy  Scrip- 
ture ;  and  that  the  Canons  of  the  Church  afford  ample  means 
of  discipline  and  correction  for  all  who  depart  from  her  stan- 
dards ;  and  further,  that  the  General  Convention  is  not  a  suit- 
able tribunal  for  the  trial  and  censure  of,  and  that  the  Church 
is  not  responsible  for,  the  errors  of  individuals,  whether  they 
are  members  of  this  Church  or  otherwise. 

Whereupon,  the  following  resolution  was  offered  : 

Resolved,  That  the  whole  subject  under  discussion,  and  the 
various  amendments  and  substitute,  be  referred  to  a  select 
committee  of  five,  with  instructions  to  report  thereon  imme- 
diately. 


OF   THE   AMERICA^r   CHURCH.  169 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  the  above 
resolution,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  negative. 

The  consideration  of  the  proposed  substitute  being  sus- 
pended, 

On  motion,  Ordered,  That  when  this  House  adjourns,  it  ad- 
journs to  meet  at  7  p.m. 

The  House  adjourned. 

Thirteenth  Day's  Session. 

7  o'clock  P.M. 
-X.  *****  * 

On  motion,  the  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  sub- 
stitute offered  this  morning. 

On  motion.  Ordered,  That  unless  the  question  on  the  substi- 
tute be  taken  earlier,  it  shall  be  taken  without  further  debate 
at  half-past  nine  o'clock. 

The  hour  named  having  arrived,  the  President  put  the  ques- 
tion on  agreeing  to  the  said  substitute,  and  it  was  decided  in 
the  negative. 

On  the  demand  of  the  clerical  and  lay  representation  from 
Ohio,  the  vote  of  each  Order  was  taken  by  dioceses,  as  follows  : 

Clergy. — Twenty-seven  dioceses  represented.  For  the  affir- 
mative, 15.     For  the  negative,  8.     Divided,  4. 

Laity. — Twenty-three  dioceses  represented.  For  the  affir- 
mative, 11.     For  the  negative,    9.     Divided,  3. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  following  amendment, 
offered  on  the  9th  instant  : 

"  Wliereas,  The  minds  of  many  of  the  members  of  this 
Church  throughout  its  union  are  sorely  grieved  and  perplexed, 
by  the  alleged  introduction  among  them  of  serious  errors  in 
doctrine  and  practice,  having  their  origin  in  certain  writings 
emanating  chiefly  from  members  of  the  University  of  Oxford 
in  England  ;  and  whereas,  it  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  the 
minds  of  such  persons  should  be  calmed,  their  anxieties  allay- 
ed, and  the  Church  disabused  of  the  charge  of  holding  in  her 
Articles  and  Offices,  doctrines  and  practices  consistent  with  all 
the  views  and  opinions  expressed  in  said  Oxford  writings,  and 
should  thus  be  freed  from  a  responsibility  which  does  not 
properly  belong  to  her  :  Therefore — 


170  THE    GE^^EKAL    CO.N^VENTION 

"  Resolved,  That  tliG  Hoube  of  Bishops  be  respectfully  re- 
quested to  communicate  with  this  House  ou  this  subject,  and 
to  take  such  order  thereon,  as  the  nature  and  magnitude  of  the 
evil  alluded  to  may  seem  to  tliem  to  require." 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  the  said 
amendment,  and  it  was  decided  Li  tl.e  negative. 

On  the  demand  of  the  clerical  ar...  lay  representation  from 
Maryland,  the  vote  of  each  Order  V7as  taken  by  dioceses,  as 
follows  : 

Clergy. — Twenty-seven  dioceses  representsd.  For  the  affir- 
mative, 8.     For  the  negative,  15.     Divided,  4. 

Laity. — Twenty-three  dioceses  represented.  For  the  affir- 
mative, 11.     For  the  negative,  11.     Divided,  1. 

The  amendment  offered  on  the  7th  instant  was  tliereupon 
withdrawn  by  the  mover. 

On  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  House  do  reconsider  the 
substitute  offered  this  morning. 

A  division  of  the  said  substitute  was  then  requested,  and 
the  question  was  taken  on  the  first  clause  of  the  said  sub- 
stitute, as  follows  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies 
consider  the  Liturgy,  Offices,  and  Articles  of  the  Church  suf- 
ficient exponents  of  her  sense  of  the  essential  doctrines  of 
Holy  Scripture  ;  and  that  the  Canons  of  the  Church  afford 
ample  means  of  discipline  and  correction  for  all  who  depart 
from  her  standards." 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  the  above 
clause,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  last  clause  of  the  said 
substitute,  as  follows  : 

"  And  further,  that  the  General  Convention  is  not  a  suitable 
tribunal  for  the  trial  and  censure  of,  and  that  the  Church  is  not 
responsible  for,  the  errors  of  individuals,  whether  tliey  are 
members  of  this  Church  or  otherwise. " 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  the  said 
clause,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

On  the  demand  of  the  clerical  and  lay  representation  from 
Ohio,  the  vote  of  each  Order  was  taken  by  dioceses,  as  follows  ; 

Clergy. — Twenty-seven  dioceses  represented.  For  the  af- 
firmative, 25.     For  the  negative,  2. 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHURCH.  171 

Laity. — Twenty-two    dioceses    represented.     For  the    aflBir- 
raative,  18.     For  the  negative,  3.     Divided,  1. 
The  House  adjourned 

The  long  and  exciting  discussion  respecting  the 
consecration  of  the  Bishop-elect  of  Mississippi, 
terminated  by  the  nnanimons  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

Resolved,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  House,  all  proceedings 
respecting  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks, 
D.D.,  ought  to  be  suspended,  until  a  future  Convention  of 
the  Diocese  of  Mississippi  shall  declare  their  sense  of  the  sub- 
ject. 

Resolved,  That  all  the  documents  now  before  this  House, 
relating  to  the  same,  be  delivered  to  the  deputies  from  Mis- 
sissippi, to  be  laid  before  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of 
Mississippi. 

The  House  of  Bishops,  in  refusing  to  concur  with 
the  House  of  Deputies  in  amending  the  Canon  re- 
quiring six  months'  probation  from  ministers  of 
other  religious  bodies  seeking  Holy  Orders,  so  that 
the  term  of  probation  should  be  twelve  months,  ac- 
companied their  refusal  by  the  following  expression 
of  the  reasons  influencing  their  decision  : 

"1.  In  practice,  no  ill  consequences  have  as  yet  resulted 
from  the  operation  of  the  Canon  as  it  now  stands. 

"2.  The  provisions  of  the  Canon  do  not  restrict  the  Bishops 
from  requiring  the  candidate  to  undergo  a  longer  probation 
than  six  months,  if  it  shall  be  deemed  expedient  or  necessary. 

"3.  It  is  believed  that  the  proposed  amendment,  if  adopted, 
will  operate  injuriously,  in  the  exclusion  of  many  worthy  men 
from  the  ministry  of  the  Church. 

"  4l.  It  is  respectfully  submitted,  that  inasmuch  as  many 
works  have  been  published  by  the  Bishops  and  other  minis- 


172        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

ters  of  this  Cliurcli,  setting  forth  the  claims  of  Episcopacy  to 
the  authority  of  Holy  Scripture  and  to  primitive  practice,  and 
containing  urgent  warnings  against  the  sin  of  schism,  it  is  not 
deemed  consistent  witli  the  principles  of  this  Church,  to  op- 
pose further  obstacles  to  the  reception  of  men  to  its  ministry, 
than  the  necessary  guards  which  prudence,  regulated  by  a 
sound  faith  and  wholesome  experience,  may  dictate." 

Expressions  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
Presiding  Bishop  (Griswold)  and  the  Bishop  of 
Virginia  (Moore)  were  adopted.  The  subject  of 
versions  of  the  Prayer  Book  in  French,  German, 
Welsh,  and  Hebrew  received  the  attention  of  the 
Convention,  and  a  resolution  was  passed  recom- 
mending 

publishers  of  the  Prayer  Book,  throughout  the  Union,  to 
print  that  portion  which  embraces  the  daily  Services  of  the 
Church,  on  paper  of  such  quality  as  will  be  pr<:)portioned  to 
the  greater  use  and  wear  to  which  that  portion  is  exposed. 

In  pursuance  of  the  following  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Expenses — • 

The  expenses  attendant  upon  the  use  of  a  city  Church  for 
the  purposes  of  the  General  Convention,  the  nature  and  charac- 
ter of  the  assemblies  there  gathered,  and  the  exciting  scenes 
of  popular  debates,  render,  in  the  judgment  of  your  Committee, 
the  House  of  God  an  inappropriate  place  for  our  sittings.  In 
any  city  in  which  the  General  Convention  is  likely  to  be  held, 
there  may  be  found  places  less  expensive,  and  better  suited  to 
the  purposes  of  the  assembly,  than  the  one  in  which  we  have 
now  met  ;  and  they  therefore  recommend,  that  the  proper  of- 
ficers of  the  Convention  charged  with  the  preparation  for  its 
sittings,  take  such  order  as  shall  prevent  the  like  objections 
from  recurring" — 

the  accompanying  resolution  was  adopted,  and  was 
concurred  in  by  the  House  of  Bishops : 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CIIUilCJL  173 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  charged  with  providing  a  plaro 
of  meeting  for  any  future  session  of  the  General  Convention 
be  instructed  to  select  some  suitable  building  used  for  secular 
purposes,  and  not  a  Church  edifice. 

The  erasure  of  the  words  ''  Associated  Eector," 
and  "  State,"  from  the  Institution  Office,  proposed 
at  the  last  Convention,  was  adopted.  An  important 
precedent  was  established  in  connection  w^ith  the 
discussion  of  the  signing  of  Dr.  Hawks'  testimo- 
nials, as  follows : 

Previous  to  the  vote  being  taken,  several  deputies  asked 
to  be  excused  from  voting,  and  that  their  reasons  therefor 
might  be  entered  on  the  Journal. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  : 

Resolved,  That  the  several  deputies  asking  to  be  excused 
from  voting  on  this  question,  be  excused  ;  and  that  leave  be 
granted  them  to  enter  their  reasons  therefor  on  the  Journal. 

A  division  of  the  said  resolution  was  asked  for,  and  that 
the  question  be  taken  on  the  first  clause  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  several  deputies  asking  to  be  excused 
from  voting  on  this  question,  be  excused." 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  this  clause, 
and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  agreeing  to  the  second 
clause  of  the  said  resolution  : 

"And  that  leave  be  granted  them  to  enter  their  reasons 
therefor  on  the  Journal." 

The  President  put  the  question  on  agreeing  to  the  said 
clause,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  negative. 

Cape  Falmas,  and  parts  adjacent  in  Western 
Africa,  were  made  a  missionary  see,  and  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Glennie,  of  South-Carolina,  chosen  to 
the  episcopate  thereof,  and  in  view  of  this  election 
a  special  "  Form  of  Certificate  of  Assent  and  Elec- 


174        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

tion"  was  adopted  for  tins  and  similar  cases,  as 
follows  : 

We,  wliose  names  are  underwritten,  do  hereby  certify  to  the 

House   of  Bishops,  that  the   Rev. having  been 

duly  nominated,  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  on  the  day 

of to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  as 

a  suitable  person  to  be  elected  a  Bishop  of  this  Church,  to  ex- 
ercise Episcopal  functions  in  or  at ,  a  Missionary 

Station,  designated  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  with  the  concur- 
rence of  this  House,  for  that  purpose,  according  to  the  pro- 
visions of  Canon  VII.  of  1844,  entitled,  "  Of  Foreign  Missionary 
Bishops,"  has  been  elected  by  the  said  House  of  Clerical  and 

Lay   Deputies,  a  Bishop   as   aforesaid,  on  this day  of 

.     And  we,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  severally 

signify  our  assent  to  the  said  nomination  and  election,  humbly 
trusting  that  the  Consecration  of  the  said  Bishop-elect  will 
conduce  to  the  edification  and  enlargement  of  the  Church  of 
Christ. 

Done  at in  General  Convention,  this 

day  of A.D. 

It  was  resolved  by  concurrent  vote — 

That  the  Joint  Committee  on  Canon  Law  be  instructed  to 
inquire  and  report  to  the  next  Convention,  as  to  the  expedi- 
ency of  so  altering  the  Constitution,  as  to  reduce  the  number 
of  deputies  to  be  sent  by  each  diocese  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion ;  and  also,  that  the  intervals  between  the  sessions  of  the 
Convention  be  more  distant. 

The  House  of  Deputies  adjourned  on  the  18th 
day  of  the  session,  October  22d ;  but  the  House  of 
Bishops  continued  their  meetings  for  four  subsequent 
days,  the  23d,  24th,  30th,  and  adjourning  on  the 
31st  of  October,  the  last  two  days'  session  being 
held  at  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  I^ew- 
York,  where  the  Bishops  had  assembled  in  exercise 
of  their  visitatorial  power.     Among  other  matters 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  175 

receiving  attention  specially  of  the  House  of  Bishops 
is  the  following : 

Tlie  Committee  [Mcllvaine,  De  Lancey,  and  Elliott],  to  whom 
were  referred  certain  memorials  from  clergymen  and  laymen 
of  sundry  dioceses  requesting  an  expression  of  opinion  on  the 
part  of  this  House,  respecting  sundry  alleged  erroneous  doc- 
trines and  practices,  which  are  represented  as  having  gained  a 
dangerous  currency  in  the  Church,  and  as  being  the  cause  of 
much  perplexity  and  alarm,  respectfully  report  that  they 
know  no  way  by  which  more  satisfactorily  to  meet  the  wishes 
of  the  memorialists,  than  to  refer  them  to  the  Pastoral  Letter, 
which  has  just  been  adopted,  and  which  will  soon  go  forth  to 
the  several  parishes  of  this  Church. 

To  this  we  add  with  regret,  as  a  part  of  the 
Convention  history,  the  following  record ;  premis- 
ing that  if  unfeigned  sorrow  for  the  sin,  and  a 
humble  submission  to  the  sentence  of  the  Church, 
through  a  long  term  of  years,  coupled  with  a  peni- 
tent and  trustful  death,  could  blot  out  this  page 
from  the  Church's  history  as  fully  as  they  secured 
in  after  years  the  remission  of  the  penalty  thus 
enjoined,  w^e  might  omit  all  reference  to  this  sad 
story. 

The  Committee*  appointed  upon  the  resignation  of  the  Rt. 
Rev.  H.  U,  Onderdonk,  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  follow  - 
ing  resolution: 

Whereas,  the  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk, 
D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  has  made  known 
in  writing  to  the  House  of  Bishops  his  desire  to  resign  his 
jurisdiction  of  the  said  diocese,  with  the  reasons  moving  him 
thereto,  and  has  tendered  to  this  House  his  resignation  of  the 

*  Consisting  of  Bishops  Chase  (President),  Brownell,  Meade, 
Ives,  and  liopkius. 


176  THE    GENKliAL    CONVENTION 

said  diocese;  and  wliereas,  the  House  of  Bishops  having  made 
investigation  of  the  said  reasons,  and  of  the  facts  and  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  deem  it  expedient  to  accept  the  said  resig- 
nation : 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  accept  the 
resignation  of  the  Episcopal  Jurisdiction  of  the  Diocese  of 
Pennsylvania,  made  by  the  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick 
Onderdonk,  D.D.,  and  hereby  declare,  that  from  and  after  this 
twenty- first  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  forty-four,  he  is  no  longer  Bishop  of 
the  said  diocese. 

And  further,  Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  resolution  be 
duly  recorded  on  the  Journal  of  this  House;  and  that  informa- 
tion of  the  same  be  communicated  to  the  House  of  Clerical 
and  Lay  Deputies. 

The  documents  connected  with  the  case  of  the  Right  Reve- 
rend Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  D.D.,  having  been  called  up, 
the  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  proposed,  consi- 
dered, and  adopted: 

Whereas,  this  House  has  heard  with  pain  and  sorrow  of 
heart,  the  communication  addressed  to  it  by  tlie  Right  Rever- 
end Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  D.D.,  in  which  he  acknowledges 
the  habitual  use  of  spirituous  liquor  as  a  remedy  for  disease, 
to  a  degree  which  has  been  the  occasion  of  unfavorable  impu- 
tations upon  the  Church,  and  brought  upon  him  an  evil  report 
among  men  : 

And  whereas  this  House,  as  well  by  the  tenor  of  the  com- 
munications of  the  said  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick  Onder- 
donk, D.D.,  as  by  the  investigation  of  the  facts  and  circum- 
stances of  his  case,  which  have  now  been  made,  is  well  assured 
that  the  usefulness  of  the  said  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick 
Onderdonk,  D.D.,  in  the  ofRce  and  work  of  the  ministry,  has 
ceased,  and  that  the  reproach  and  injury  which  he  has  been 
the  means  of  bringing  upon  the  Church  of  Christ  require  the 
administration  of  discipline  in  the  premises  ; 

And  whereas,  the  said  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick  Onder- 
donk, D.D.,  has  requested  of  this  House  such  an  act  of  disci- 
pline as  in  the  judgment  of  the  said  House  is  proper. 


X 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  177 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  Right  Reverend  Henry  Uetick 
Onderdonk,  D.D.,  having  made  to  this  House  a  w^ritten  ac- 
knowledgment of  his  unworthiness,  this  House  does  now 
determine  that  he  be  suspended  from  his  office,  and  that  the 
Presiding  Bishop,  in  the  presence  of  this  House,  shall  pro- 
nounce the  following  Sentence,  viz.: 

SENTENCE. 

The  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  Doctor  in 
Divinity,  having  acknowledged  himself  the  cause  of  reproach 
and  injury  to  the  Church,  and  having  submitted  himself  to  the 
judgment  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  in  General  Convention 
assembled  ;  the  said  House  does  hereby  adjudge  that  the  said 
Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  Doctor  in  Divinity,  be  suspended 
from  all  public  exercise  of  the  offices  and  functions  of  the 
sacred  ministry,  and  in  particular  from  all  exercise  whatso- 
ever of  the  office  and  work  of  a  Bishop,  in  the  Church  of  God; 
and  does  accordingly  so  suspqjid  the  said  Henry  Ustick  Onder- 
donk, Doctor  in  Divinity,  and  declare  him  suspended,  from 
and  after  this  twenty-first  day  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-four,  from  all 
public  exercise  of  the  office  and  functions  of  the  sacred  minis- 
try, and  from  all  exercise  whatsoever  of  the  office  and  work  of 
a  Bishop,  in  the  Church  of  God  ;  in  the  Name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen, 

The  Presiding  Bishop  then,  in  the  presence  of  the  Bishops, 
pronounced  the  above  sentence. 

On  motion  of  Bishop  De  Lancey,  seconded  by  Bishop  Whit- 
tingliam. 

Resolved,  That  the  documents  connected  with  the  case  of 
the  Right  Reverend  Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  D.D.,  be  placed 
on  file. 

Among  the  results  of  the  visitation  of  the  Gene- 
ral Theological  Seminary,  was  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolutions : 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Bishops,  as  visitors,  having  visited 
the  Seminary  and  inspected  the  same,  do  not  find  in  any  of  its 


178        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

interior  arrangements  any  evidences  tliat  superstitious  or 
Romisli  practices  are  allowed  or  encouraged  in  the  institution. 
3.  Resolved,  That  the  Bishops  deem  the  publication  of  the 
questions  of  the  Bishops  and  the  answers  of  the  Professors  * 
the  most  appropriate  reply  to  the  current  rumors  respecting 
the  doctrinal  teaching  of  the  Seminary. 

The  clergy  list  now  contained  twelve  hundred 
and  forty  names. 

*  These  questions  and  answers  are  printed  in  full  in  the 
appendix  to  the  Journal. 


OF  THE  AMEKICAN   CHUliCH.  179 


THE  CONYENTION   OF  1847. 

Twenty-Uve  Bishops  were  in  attendance  at  the 
Convention  of  1847,  which  was  in  session  from 
October  6th  to  28th  inchisive,  in  St.  John's 
Chapel,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  with  one  hun- 
dred and  three  clerical  and  eighty -three  lay 
deputies.  The  officers  of  the  last  House  of  Depu- 
ties were  re-elected.  The  place  of  meeting,  agree- 
ably to  the  vote  of  the  last  Convention,  was  provided 
in  the  jS'ew-York  University,  but  at  the  request  of 
the  Bishops  the  session  was  continued  in  the 
church  where  its  opening  services  had  been  held. 
Wisconsin  was  admitted  into  union  with  the  Con- 
vention. Tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Burgess's  testimonials,  as 
Bishop  of  Maine,  were  passed.  The  diocese  of 
Xew-York  appealed  for  relief  from  its  anomalous 
position  with  its  Bishop  under  suspension,  and  the 
Bishop  himself  memorialized  the  Convention  in  his 
own  behalf. 

Questions  of  canonical  procedure  growing  out 
of  the  suspension  of  Bishop  B.  T.  Onderdonk 
occupied  the  greater  portion  of  the  session.  The 
Canons  adopted  at  this  session  were,  I.  Of  the 
Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary; 
II.  Of  the  Remission  or  Modification  of  Judicial 
Sentences ;    III.    Of  the  Penalty  of  Suspension  ; 


180        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

IV.  Of  the  Performance  of  Episcopal  Duties  in 
vacant  Dioceses,  or  in  a  Diocese  the  Bishop  of 
which  is  under  Disability ;  V.  Of  a  Discretion  to 
be  allowed  in  the  Calling,  Trial  and  Examination  of 
Deacons,  in  certain  cases ;  YI.  Of  Candidates  for 
Orders.  A  Canon  "  Of  Suffragan  Bishops"  was 
referred  to  a  joint  committee  to  report  to  the 
next  Convention.  The  question  as  to  the  constitu- 
tionality of  the  appointment  of  supplemental 
deputies  by  the  authority  of  the  Diocesan  Conven- 
tions, though  not  directly  "  by  the  Convention  of 
the  diocese,"  as  Art.  2  of  the  Constitution  requires, 
was  decided  in  favor  of  the  admission  of  those 
thus  appointed.  An  effort  to  provide  by  Canon, 
that  no  diocese  should  have  more  than  one  repre- 
sentative in  the  House  of  Bishops,  was  rejected  as 
in  violation  of  Art.  3  of  the  Constitution,  "  under 
which  the  Bishops  sit,  not  as  representatives  of 
dioceses,  but  by  virtue  of  their  office."  In  view 
of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States, 
the  title  of  the  Missionary  Bishop  (Freeman) 
elected  under  a  resolution  of  the  Convention  of 
1844,  and  having  jurisdiction  in  the  republic  of 
Texas,  was  changed  to  conform  with  the  new  civil 
relations  of  the  district  in  question.  A  proposed 
change  of  Art.  1  of  the  Constitution,  appointing 
the  time  of  the  meeting  of  General  Convention 
on  the  first  Wednesday  in  September,  was  submit- 
ted to  the  diocese  for  final  action  at  the  next  Con- 
vention. The  appointment  of  the  Rev.  James  B. 
Britton,  as  assistant  to  Bishop  Philander  Chase,  by 
tlie  Convention  of    Illinois,  failed  to  receive  the 


OF   THE   AiMERICAN   CHUKCH.  181 

confirmation  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  the  vote 
on  signing  his  testimonials  being  as  follows : 

Of  the  Clergy— 28  dioceses  represented.  Affirmative,  11  ; 
negative,  16  ;  divided,  1. 

Of  the  Laity— 23  dioceses  represented.  Affirmative,  7  ; 
negative,  10  ;  divided,  6. 

Bishop  Kemper's  election  to  the  Diocesan  Epis- 
copate of  Wisconsin  was  confirmed.  The  number 
of  the  clergy  had  reached  fourteen  hundred  and 
four. 


182       THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONYET^TIOlSr   OF  1850. 

The  Convention  of  1850  met  in  Christ  Church, 
Cincinnati.  Twenty-eight  Bishops  were  present ; 
ninety-four  clerical  and  seventy  lay  deputies 
made  up  the  Lower  House,  officered  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  "Wyatt  as  President,  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  M.  A. 
De  Wolfe  Howe,  in  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper 
Mead,  who  declined  a  re-election,  as  Secretary. 
The  session  was  brief,  only  extending  from  the 
second  to  the  sixteenth  of  October,  inclusive. 
The  condition  of  the  Diocese  of  New-  York  occu- 
pied much  of  the  attention  of  the  Convention. 
Canonical  provision  was  made  respecting  the 
rights  of  Bishops  on  visitations.  The  election 
of  Provisional  Bishops;  the  resignation  of  Bish- 
ops; the  position  of  Foreign  Missionary  Bish- 
ops; the  renunciation  of  the  ministry;  and 
the  case  of  a  clergyman  in  one  diocese,  charge- 
able with  misdemeanor  in  any  other,  were 
made  subjects  of  canonical  enactment.  The  pro- 
posed change  in  the  time  of  meeting  of  the  Con- 
vention was  negatived.  The  Diocese  of  Texas  was 
admitted  into  union  with  the  Convention.  A  pro- 
posed amendment  of  Art.  5  of  the  Constitution, 
removing  the  territorial  and  numerical  restrictions 
upon  the  division  of  dioceses,  was  submitted  to 
the  Convention  for  final  action  at  the  session  of 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  183 

1853.  The  Canon  "Of  Suffragan  Bishops,"  was 
indefinitely  postponed.  The  lay  delegation  of 
New- Jersey  had  permission  to  "  record  their  dissent 
to  the  passage  of  the  Canon  of  ^  Episcopal  Resig- 
nations.' "  The  resignation  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Horatio  Southgate  "as  Missionary  Bishop  to  the 
Dominions  and  Dependencies  of  the  Sultan  of 
Turkey,"  was  "  received,  accepted,  and  recorded" 
by  the  House  of  Bishops.  The  first  volume  of  the 
Ecclesiastical  History  prepared  by  the  Historio- 
grapher was  commended  to  the  patronage  of  the 
Church.     It  was 

Resolved,  That  the  constantly  enlarging  field  of  missionary 
work,  diocesan,  domestic  and  foreign,  presented  before  the 
Church,  and  the  clear  indications  of  God's  good  will  toward 
the  work  itself,  can  be  rightly  met  only  by  an  enlarged  liberal- 
ity on  the  part  of  the  Church  generally,  and  a  spirit  of  greater 
self-denial,  and  more  single  devotedness  on  the  part  of  the 
various  orders  of  the  ministry. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  John  Payne  was  elected  Mis- 
sionary Bishop  at  Cape  Palmas,  and  parts  adjacent, 
West  Africa,  In  the  House  of  Bishops,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  and  report. 

Whether  some  plan  can  not  be  proposed,  by  which,  consis- 
tently with  the  principles  of  our  Reformed  Communion,  the 
service  of  intelligent  and  pious  persons  of  both  sexes  may  be 
secured  to  the  Church  to  a  greater  extent,  in  the  education  of 
the  young,  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  destitute,  the  care  of 
orphans  and  friendless  emigrants,  and  the  reformation  of  the 
vicious. 

A  plan  of  a  Court  of  Appeals  was  referred  to 
fJie  next  Convention.     The  following  resolutions 


1S4  THE    GEXER-AL    CONVENTION 

were  offered  by  Bishop  De  Lancey,  and  seconded  by 
Bishop  Otey  : 

Ee-^ohed,  That  tlie  following  resolution  lie  on  the  table  for 
consideration  at  the  next  Triennial  General  Convention : 

Besohed,  The  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concurring, 
tliat  a  joint  comniirtee,  to  consist  of  five  Bishops,  and  of  five 
clergymen  and  five  laymen,  be  appoinied  to  report  to  the 
next  Triennial  General  Convention,  on  the  expediency  of  ar- 
ranging tbe  dioceses  according  to  geographical  position  into 
four  Provinces,  to  be  designated  the  Eastern,  Xorthem, 
Southern,  and  Western  Provinces,  and  to  be  united  under  a 
General  Convention  or  Council  of  the  Provinces,  having  ex- 
clusive control  over  the  Prayer  Book,  Articles,  Ofl&ces,  and 
Homilies  of  this  Cliurch,  to  be  held  once  every  twenty  years. 

A  memorial  from  clergy,  vestries,  and  individu- 
als of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  qnestioning  the 
right  of  the  Bishop  to  administer  the  Holy  Com- 
mnnion  when  on  his  ^'isitations,  is  placed  in  the 
appendix  to  the  Journal.  Tlie  Bishop's  right, 
therein  excepted  to,  was  "affirmed  by  the  judicial 
and  legislative  authorities  of  the  Diocese  y  "  re- 
affirmed by  a  vote  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies."  and  provided  for  against  all  possible 
exceptions  in  a  canon  on  the  subject. 

Xo  Pastoral  was  issued  by  this  Convention,  but 
the  Convention  was  closed  with  an  address  from 
the  Presiding  Bishop,  Philander  Chase,  which  was 
delivered  at  midnight,  in  the  midst  of  a  terrific 
storm.  Fifteen  hundred  and  lif ty-eight  clergymen 
were  reported. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  185 


THE    CONVENTION    OF    1853. 

Thirty  Bishops  were  in  attendance  on  the  Con- 
vention of  1853,  which  met  in  Trinity  Church  and 
St.  John's  Chapel,  in  the  city  of  New- York,  and 
continued  in  session  from  the  5th  to  the  26th  of 
October,  inchisive.     The  House  of  Deputies  num- 
bered two  hundred  members — one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen clerical,  and  eighty-five  lay,  from  thirty  dio- 
ceses.    The  Eev.  Dr.  Wyatt,  the  President  at  eight 
successive    Conventions,    was    succeeded    by   Dr. 
Creighton.    Dr.  Howe,  who  had  been  elected  Secre- 
tary at  Cincinnati  on  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Cooper 
Mead,  was  re-elected  Secretary.     The  presence  of  a 
deputation  from  the  venerable  Society  for  the  Pro- 
pagation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  the 
attendance  of  the  Bishop  of  Fredericton,  were  inte- 
resting  and   noticeable  features   of   this   Conven- 
tion.    The  abandonment  of  our  Communion  on  the 
part  of  the  Bishop  of  North-Carolina,  received  its 
fitting  notice,  and  under  a  special  canon,  the  exci- 
sion of  this  unworthy  prelate  was  pronounced  with 
due  formality  by  the  Presiding  Bishop,  sitting  in 
his  chair,  in  the  presence  of   both   Houses,    after 
prayers,  and  in  the  following  form  : 

Whereas,  Levi  Silliman  Ives,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  in  the  Diocese  of  North- 
Carolina,  in  a  communication  under  his  proper  hand,  bearing 


186        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

date,  "  Rome,  December  twenty-second,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty-two,"  avowed  his  purpose  to  resign  his 
"  Office  as  Bishop  of  North-Carolina,"  and  further  declared  that 
he  was  "determined  to  make  his  submission  to  the  Catholic" 
(meaning  the  Roman)  "Church." 

And  whereas,  there  is  before  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  acting  under  the  pro- 
vision of  Canon  First  of  1853,  satisfactory  evidence  that  the 
said  Levi  Silliman  Ives,  D.D.,  has  publicly  renounced  the  com- 
munion of  the  Church,  and  made  his  submission  to  the  Bishop 
of  Rome,  as  Universal  Bishop  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  Vicar 
of  Christ  upon  earth,  thus  acknowledging  these  impious  pre- 
tensions of  that  Bishop,  thereby  violating  the  vows  solemnly 
made  by  him,  the  said  Levi  Silliman  Ives,  D.D.,  at  his  consecration 
as  a  Bishop  of  the  Church  of  God,  abandoning  that  portion  of 
the  flock  of  Christ  committed  to  his  oversight,  and  binding  him- 
self under  anathema  to  the  antichristian  doctrines  and  practices 
imposed  by  the  Council  of  Trent  upon  all  the  Churches  of  the 
Roman  Obedience, 

Be  it  therefore  known,  that  on  this  fourteenth  day  of  October, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  One  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
three,  I,  Thomas  Church  Brownell,.D.D.,  LL.D.,  by  Divine 
permission,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  and  Presid- 
ing Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Bishops,  as  hereinafter  enumerated,  to  wit  : — William 
Meade,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Virginia,  John  Henry 
Hopkins,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Vermont,  Benjamin  Bos- 
worth  Smith,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Kentucky,  Charles 
Pettit  M'llvaine,  D.D.,  D.C.L.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio, 
George  Washington  Doane,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  New-Jersey,  James  Hervey  Otey,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Tennessee,  Jackson  Kemper,  D.D.,  Missionary  Bishop 
of  Wisconsin  and  the  North-west,  Samuel  Allen  M'Coskry, 
D.D.,  D.C.L.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Michigan,  William 
Heathcote  De  Lancey,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.,  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Western  New- York,  William  Rollinson  Whittingham, 
D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  Stephen  Elliott,  Jr., 
D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Georgia,  Alfred  Lee,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Delaware,  John  Johns,  D.D. ,  Assist- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  187 

ant  Bisliop  of  tlie  Diocese  of  Virginia,  Manton  Eastburn,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Massachusetts,  Carlton  Chase,  D.D., 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New-Hampshire,  Nichohis  Hamner 
Cobbs,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Alabama,  Cicero  Stephens 
Hawks,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Missouri,  George  Wash- 
ington Freeman,  D.D.,  Missionary  Bishop  of  the  South-west, 
Alonzo  Potter,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, George  Burgess,  D.D.,  Bisliop  of  the  Diocese  of  Maine, 
George  Upfold,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Indiana,  William 
Mercer  Green,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi,  Fran- 
cis Huger  Rutledge,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Florida, 
John  Williams,  D.D.,  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Con- 
necticut, Henry  John  Whitehouse,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Illinois,  and  Jonathan  Mayhew  Wainwright,  D.D.,  D.C.L., 
Provisional  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New-York,  and  in  the 
terms  of  the  Canon  in  such  case  made  and  provided,  do  pro- 
nounce the  said  Levi  Silliman  Ives,  D.D.,  ipso  facto  deposed  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  from  the  Office  of  a  Bishop  in  the 
Church  of  God,  and  from  all  the  rights,  privileges,  powers  and 
dignities  thereunto  pertaining. 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. — Amen  ! 

Thomas  Church  Brownell, 

Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  and  Presiding  Bisliop. 

As  the  Presiding  Bishop  pronounced  the  closing 
words,  he  rose  from  his  chair,  "  and  all  the  people 
said  Amen." 

Besides  the  Canon,  ^'  Of  the  Abandonment  of  the 
Communion  of  the  Church  by  any  Bishop,  Priest, 
or  Deacon,"  tlie  following  Canons  were  adopted : 
Of  Bishops  absent  from  their  Dioceses,  because  of 
sickness  or  other  sufficient  reason ;  Of  the  Election 
and  Institution  of  Ministers  into  Parishes  and 
Churches ;  Of  Clerical  Kesidence  and  Kemoval ; 
Of  the  officiating  of  Ministers  of  this  Church,  and 
of  tlie  formation  of  Parishes  within  the  Parochial 


188        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Cures  of  other  Clergymen ;  Of  the  Abandonment 
of  the  Communion  of  this  Church  by  a  Presbyter 
or  Deacon ;  Of  the  Ordination  of  Deacons,  etc. ; 
Of  Hemoval  of  Communicants  from  one  Parish  to 
another ;  Of  Missionary  Bishops  within  the  United 
States ;  Of  a  Registrar ;  Of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Missionary  Bishops'  Fimd  ;  Of  the  Expenses  of  the 
Convention  ;  Of  tlie  Mode  of  securing  an  Accurate 
Yiew  of  the  State  of  the  Church.  The  Diocese  of 
Iowa  was  admitted  into  union  w^ith  the  Convention, 
and  the  application  of  California  deferred,  evidence 
being  wanting  that  the  diocese  had  acceded  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States.  A  Missionary  Bishop  (the  Rt. 
Rev.  Dr.  Kip)  w^as  therefore  appointed  for  this 
State,  and  one  (the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Scott)  for  Oregon. 
Bishop  Atkinson  was  consecrated  in  the  place  of  the 
deposed  Ives,  and  South-Carolina  received  a  new 
Bishop  (Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Davis)  at  the  same  time.  The 
"Memorial"  presented  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg and  others,  in  favor  of  liturgical  relaxation 
and  church  comprehension,  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  commission,  having  the  consideration  of 
these  matters  committed  to  them.  As  a  part  of  the 
history  of  the  Convention,  we  give  the  "Memorial" 
in  full: 

To  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  Council 

assembled. 
Right  Reverend  Fathers  : 

Tlie  undersigned,  presbyters  of  tlie  Church  of  which  you 
have  the  oversight,  venture  to  approach  your  venerable  body 
with  an  expression  of  sentiment,  which  their  estimate  of  your 
office  in  relation  to  the  times  does  not  permit  them  to  with- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  189 

hold.  In  so  doing,  they  have  confidence  in  your  readiness  to 
appreciate  their  motives  and  their  aims.  The  actual  posture  of 
our  Church  w^ith  reference  to  the  great  moral  and  social  neces- 
sities of  the  day,  presents  to  the  minds  of  the  undersigned  a 
subject  of  grave  and  anxious  thought.  Did  they  suppose  that 
this  was  confined  to  themselves,  they  would  not  feel  warranted 
in  submitting  it  to  your  attention  ;  but  they  believe  it  to  be 
participated  in  by  many  of  their  brethren,  who  may  not  have 
seen  the  expediency  of  declaring  their  views,  or  at  least  a  ma- 
ture season  for  such  a  course. 

The  divided  and  distracted  state  of  our  American  Protestant 
Christianity,  the  new  and  subtle  forms  of  unbelief  adapting 
themselves  with  fatal  success  to  the  spirit  of  the  age,  the  con- 
solidated forces  of  Romanism  bearing  with  renewed  skill  and 
activity  against  the  Protestant  faith,  and  as  more  or  less  the 
consequence  of  these,  the  utter  ignorance  of  the  Gospel  among 
so  large  a  portion  of  the  lower  classes  of  our  population,  mak- 
ing a  heathen  world  in  our  midst,  are  among  the  considera- 
tions which  induce  your  memorialists  to  present  the  inquiry 
whether  the  period  has  not  arrived  for  the  adoption  of  mea- 
sures, to  meet  these  exigencies  of  the  times,  more  compre- 
hensive than  any  yet  provided  for  by  our  present  ecclesiastical 
system  :  in  other  words,  whether  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Cliurch,  with  only  her  present  canonical  means  and  appliances, 
her  fixed  and  invariable  modes  of  public  worship,  and  her  tra- 
ditional customs  and  usages,  is  competent  to  the  work  of 
preaching  and  dispensing  the  Gospel  to  all  sorts  and  conditions 
of  men,  and  so  adequate  to  do  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  this  land 
and  in  this  age  ?  This  question,  your  petitioners,  for  their 
own  part,  and  in  consonance  with  many  thoughtful  minds 
among  us,  believe  must  be  answered  in  the  negative.  Their 
memorial  proceeds  on  the  assumption  that  our  Church,  confined 
to  the  exercise  of  her  present  system,  is  not  sufficient  to  the 
great  purposes  above  mentioned — that  a  wider  door  must  be 
opened  for  admission  to  the  Gospel  ministry  than  that  through 
which  her  candidates  for  holy  orders  are  now  obliged  to  enter. 
Besides  such  candidates  among  her  own  members,  it  is  believed 
that  men  can  be  found  among  the  other  bodies  of  Christians 
around  us,  who  would  gladly  receive  ordination  at  your  hands, 
could  they   obtain  it,    without  that  entire  surrender  which 


190  THE    GENERAL    CONVEX' TION 

would  now  be  required  of  tliem,  of  all  tlie  liberty  in  public 
worship  to  wliicli  they  have  been  accustomed — men,  who  could 
not  bring  themselv^es  to  conform  in  all  particulars  to  our  pre- 
scriptions and  customs,  but  yet  sound  in  the  faith,  and  who, 
having  the  gifts  of  preachers  and  pastors,  would  be  able  minis- 
ters of  the  New  Testament.  With  deference  it  is  asked,  ought 
such  an  accession  to  your  means  in  executing  your  high  com- 
mission, "  Go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,"  be  refused,  for  the  sake  of  conformity  in  matters 
recognized  in  the  preface  to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  as 
unessentials  ?  Dare  we  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send 
forth  laborers  into  the  harvest,  while  we  reject  all  laborers  but 
those  of  one  peculiar  type  ?  The  extension  of  orders  to  the 
class  of  men  contemplated  (with  whatever  safeguards,  not  in- 
fringing on  evangelical  freedom,  which  your  wisdom  might 
deem  expedient),  appears  to  your  petitioners  to  be  a  subject 
supremely  worthy  of  your  deliberations. 

In  addition  to  the  prospect  of  the  immediate  good  which 
would  thus  be  opened,  an  important  step  would  be  taken  to- 
wards the  effecting  of  a  Church  unity  in  the  Protestant  Chris- 
tendom of  our  land.  To  become  a  central  bond  of  union 
among  Christians,  who,  though  differing  in  name,  yet  hold  to 
the  one  Faith,  the  one  Lord,  and  the  one  Baptism,  and  who 
need  only  such  a  bond  to  be  drawn  together  in  closer  and  more 
primitive  fellowship,  is  here  believed  to  be  the  peculiar  pro- 
vince and  high  privilege  of  your  venerable  body  as  a  College 
of  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Bishops  as  such. 

This  leads  your  petitioners  to  declare  the  ultimate  design  of 
their  memorial — which  is  to  submit  the  practicability  under 
your  auspices,  of  gome  ecclesiastical  system,  broader  and  more 
comprehensive  than  that  which  you  now  administer,  surround- 
ing and  including  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  as  it  now 
is,  leaving  that  Church  untouched,  identical  with  that  Church 
in  all  its  great  principles,  yet  providing  for  as  much  freedom 
in  opinion,  discipline  and  worship  as  is  compatible  with  the 
essential  Faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel.  To  define  and  act 
upon  such  a  system,  it  is  believed,  must  sooner  or  later  be  the 
work  of  an  American  Catholic  Episcopate. 

In  justice  to  themselves  on  this  occasion,  your  memorialists 
beg  leave  to  remark  that,  although  aware  that  the  foregoing 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  191 

views  are  not  confined  to  their  own  small  number,  tliey  have 
no  reason  to  suppose  that  any  other  parties  contemplate  a  pub- 
lic expression  of  them,  like  the  present.  Having  therefore 
undertaken  it,  they  trust  that  they  have  not  laid  themselves 
open  to  the  charge  of  unwarranted  intrusion.  They  find  their 
warrant  in  the  prayer  now  offered  up  by  all  our  congregations, 
"  that  the  comfortable  Gospel  of  Christ  may  be  truly  preached, 
truly  received,  and  truly  followed,  in  all  places  to  the  breaking 
down  of  the  kingdom  of  Sin,  Satan,  and  Death."  Convinced 
that,  for  the  attainment  of  these  blessed  ends,  there  must  be 
some  greater  concert  of  action  among  Protestant  Christians, 
than  any  which  yet  exists,  and  believing  that  with  you,  Rt. 
Rev'd  Fathers,  it  rests  to  take  the  first  measures  tending 
thereto,  your  petitioners  could  not  do  less  than  humbly  submit 
their  memorial,  to  such  consideration  as  in  your  wisdom  you 
may  see  fit  to  give  it — Praying  that  it  may  not  be  dismissed 
without  reference  to  a  Commission,  and  assuring  you.  Right 
Reverend  Fathers,  of  our  dutiful  veneration  and  esteem, 

We  are,  most  respectfully,  your  Brethren  and  Servants  in 
the  Gospel  of  Christ, 

W.  A.  Muhlenberg,  C.  F.  Cruse,  Philip  Berry,  Edwin 
Harwood,  G.  T.  Bedell,  Henry  Gregory,  Alex.  H. 
Vinton,  M.  A.  De  Wolfe  Howe,  S.  H.  Turner,  S.  R. 
Johnson,  C.  W.  Andrews,  and  others. 

New-York,  October Uth,  1853. 

Concurring  in  the  main  purport  of  the  above  memorial,  and 
believing  that  the  necessities  of  the  times  call  for  some  special 
efforts  to  promote  unity  among  Christians,  and  to  enlarge  for 
that  and  other  great  ends  the  efficiency  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  but  not  being  able  to  adopt  certain  suggestions 
of  this  memorial,  the  undersigned  most  heartily  join  in  the 
prayer  that  the  subject  may  be  referred  to  a  commission  of 
your  venerable  body. 

John  Henry  Hobart,  A.  Cleveland  Coxe,  Ed.  Y.  Higbee, 
Francis  Vinton,  Isaac  G.  Hubbard,  and  others. 


192  THE   GENERAL    cipNVENTION 

The  Convention  of   the   Diocese  of  New- York 

liad  instructed  its  deputies  to  the  General  Con- 
vention 

to  bring  before  that  body  for  consideration,  the  expediency 
of  a  law  of  the  Church  General  for  securing  the  proper 
administration  of  her  discipline,  without  an  undue  or  im- 
proper interference  with  the  rights  of  her  ministers  and 
members  as  citizens  to  invoke  the  interposition  of  the  civil 
courts. 

The  joint  committee,  to  which  the  whole  sub- 
ject in  question  was  referred,  presented  the  follow- 
ing important  report : 

That  they  have  duly  considered  the  same,  and  deem  it  in- 
expedient to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  The  great  interest  of 
the  question,  and  the  action  of  the  Diocese  of  New- York  upon 
it,  which  has  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Committee, 
induce  them  to  lay  before  the  Convention  some  of  the  principal 
reasons  which  hare  led  to  their  conclusion.  They  find  the 
action  of  the  civil  tribunals  throughout  our  country,  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  in  harmony  with  the  lawful  exercise  of 
every  power  necessary  to  enforce  the  disciphne  of  the  Church. 
They  understand  the  established  rule  to  be  substantially  this, 
that  such  courts  will  in  no  case  interfere  with  the  proceedings 
or  sentences  of  ecclesiastical  tribunals,  except  where  a  right 
to  property  or  to  some  civil  privileges  is  brought  in  question ; 
and  then  only  to  determine  the  existence  of  the  jurisdiction 
over  the  party  and  subject ;  to  ascertain  that  the  proceedings 
have  been  had  upon  reasonable  notice  to  appear  and  defend, 
and  are  unsustained  by  fraud.  To  such  restrictions  the  duty 
of  every  citizen  binds  him  to  submit,  and  the  enlightened 
conscience  of  every  Christian  must  yield  them  approbation. 
In  the  language  of  the  judgment  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of 
South  Carolina,  "the  structure  of  our  Government  has,  for 
the  preservation  of  civil  liberty,  rescued  the  temporal  institu- 
tions from  religious  interference.  On  the  other  hand,  it  has 
secured  religious  liberty  from  the  invasion  of  the  civil  au- 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  193 

thority.  The  judgments,  therefore,  of  religious  associations 
bearing  upon  their  own  members  are  not  examinable  here." 

Thus  happily  has  the  power  of  the  State  in  our  land  moved 
in  its  appropriate  sphere,  and  the  discipline  of  a  Church  in  its 
spiritual  and  peculiar  office,  been  recognized  and  sustained. 
To  adopt  any  measure  which  would  appear  to  deny,  or  even 
doubt,  the  fidelity  of  the  civil  courts  to  these  safe  principles, 
would  be  unwise  and  injurious.  It  would  be  deemed  an 
approach  to  the  doctrine  of  papal  supremacy,  which  demands 
the  obedience  of  all  authority  to  its  sway,  and  seeks  to  control 
all  civil  rights  as  well  as  spiritual  relations.  That  doctrine 
called  forth  the  formidable  strength  of  monarclis  and  States 
to  promote  the  reformation  of  the  faith;  and  the  efforts  which 
broke  the  chain  upon  the  religious  mind,  severed  also  the 
fetters  of  universal  allegiance  to  a  usurped  dominion. 

The  Committee  are  well  aware  of  the  great  evils,  labor, 
and  responsibility  which  an  unrestricted  and  unsuccessful 
application  to  the  civil  tribunals  may  impose  upon  individuals 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duty  to  the  Church.  The  Committee 
see  no  means  of  averting  or  mitigating  these  evils,  but  at  the 
risk  of  incurring  others  of  a  far  deeper  and  more  injurious 
nature.  Those  who  may  be  unhappily  so  involved,  must  be 
left  to  the  countenance  and  support  of  the  Church  ;  and  the 
example  furnished  by  the  Diocese  of  New- York  warrants  the 
belief  that  they  will  not  be  left  alone  in  their  labors  or  their 
burthens. 

The  Committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  to  pass  any  Canon,  or  take 
any  order  in  relation  to  any  application  by  accused  ministers 
to  the  civil  tribunals  for  interposition  or  redress. 

Resolutions  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  several 
of  the  clergy  at  the  South  who  "  counted  not  their 
lives  dear  unto  themselves,"  but  died  at  their  posts 
after  faithful  service  in  the  midst  of  the  pestilence, 
were  unanimously  adopted.  The  presence  of  re- 
presentatives of  the  venerable  Society  for  the  Pro- 
pagation of    the  Gospel,  and  the   Synod  of  th(^ 


19:1:  THE   GENEKAL    CONVENTION 

Diocese  of  Toronto,  was  appropriately  noticed.  The 
Bishops  were  requested  to  initiate  means  which 
should,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  lead  to  the  increase 
of  the  ministry,  and  to  set  forth  a  prayer  therefor. 
The  preparation  of  an  index  to  the  whole  series 
of  Journals  was  ordered.  Bishop  De  Lancey's 
resolution  (seconded  by  Bishop  Whittingham) 
appointing  a  joint  committee 

to  report  to  tlie  next  triennial  General  Convention,  on  the 
expediency  of  arranging  the  existing  dioceses  and  domestic 
missionary  jurisdictions,  according  to  geographical  position, 
into  provinces,  having  their  several  Provincial  Conventions,  and 
united  under  a  General  Convention  meeting  at  longer  intervals, 
and  liaving  exclusive  control  over  the  Constitution,  Prayer 
Book,  Articles,  Oflaces  and  Homilies  of  the  Church, 

was  referred  to  the  next  Convention. 

After  a  day's  delay  in  the  time  of  the  adjourn- 
ment, occasioned  by  the  unwillingness  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  to  admit  the  principle  that  a 
presbyter  removing  into  a  diocese  must  necessarily 
be  received  if  bringing  clean  letters  dimissory,  it 
was  discovered  that  a  canon  to  that  effect  had  been 
adopted  at  the  previous  Convention  through  the 
neglect  of  the  Bishops  to  return  it  to  the  Lower 
House,  with  their  reasons  for  rejectiixg  it,  within 
the  constitutional  "  three  days."* 


*  It  should  he  ohserved  in  this  connection  that  this  canon,  as 
amended,  was  passed  by  the  House  of  Deputies  on  the  13th, 
i.  e.,  the  lad  day  of  the  session,  and  was  communicated  to 
the  House  of  Bishops  on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  and 
laid  upon  the  table.  This  fact  proves  that  the  phrase  "  within 
three  days  "  of  the  Constitution  does  not  necessarily  require 
that  there  shall  be  three  days'  session  subsequent  to  action  re- 
ported to  the  House  of  Bishops  to  make  this  constitutional 
provision  operative 


OF   THE   AMEKICAN    CHURCH.  195 

The  report  of  the  Committee  of  Conference, 
which  was  accepted  by  both  Houses,  establishing 
this  interpretation  of  a  disputed  point,  we  give  in 
full: 

The  Joint  Committee  of  Conference  having  traced  through 
the  Journal  of  the  General  Convention  of  1850,  the  Canon  "  of 
Ministers  removing  from  one  Diocese  to  another,"  find  that 
Canon  to  have  been  deliberately  discussed  in  both  Houses 
and  by  a  Committee  of  Conference  between  the  two  Houses, 
and  to  have  been  so  amended  as  to  contain  the  provisions  now 
incorporated  into  the  Canon  proposed  as  a  substitute  for  the 
Canon  XXX.  of  1832,  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Depu- 
ties, and,  as  so  amended,  to  have  been  passed  as  a  substantive 
act  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  duly  communi- 
cated by  message  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  not  sub- 
sequently acted  on  by  that  House,  and  thereby,  by  the  terms 
of  Article  HI.  of  the  Constitution,  to  have  acquired  the  force 
of  law  in  the  Church,  but,  by  a  failure  of  the  secretary  to 
notice  this  fact,  not  to  have  been  numbered  and  placed  among 
the  Canons  of  that  General  Convention. 

They  therefore  recommend  that  the  Canon  so  passed  be 
printed  in  its  proper  place  as  Canon  VII.  of  1850. 

And,  inasmuch  as  the  principle  of  the  Canon  now  proposed 
by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  the  substitute 
for  Canon  XXX.  of  1832,  has  already  the  force  of  law  in  this 
Church,  they  recommend  to  the  House  of  Bishops  that  they 
do  concur  in  the  said  Canon  as  passed  by  the  other  House. 

John  H.  Hopkins, 
Chairman  of  GorrCtee  of  the  House  of  Bishops. 
Ch.  Hanckel, 
Chairman  of  Com' tee  of  the  Home  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 

Three  amendments  to  the  Constitution  were 
proposed :  I.,  to  Article  2,  requiring  lay  deputies 
to  be  communicants  and  residents  of  the  diocese  ; 
II.,   to   Article   5,   removing    restrictions   on   the 


196        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

division  of  dioceses ;  and  III.,  to  Article  6,  pro- 
viding for  an  uniform  mode  of  trial. 

The  Appendix  to  the  Journal  contains  several 
important  papers,  among  them  the  majority  and 
minority  reports  on  the  Judiciary  System  of  the 
Church  ;  a  proposed  Canon  of  Appeals  ;  Canon  of 
the  Penal  Law  of  the  Church ;  and  the  letters  of 
Consecration  of  the  Bishops,  from  Seabury  to 
Scott. 

The  names  of  sixteen  hundred  and  iifty-une 
clergymen  appear  on  the  clergy  list. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH.  197 


THE  co:^ryE]S'TioN  of  isse. 

In  1856  the  Convention  met  in  St.  Luke's 
Church,  Philadelphia,  from  October  1st  to  October 
21st,  inclusive.  All  but  two  of  the  thirty-four  Bish- 
ops were  in  attendance,  Bishop  Brownell  presiding 
in  the  House  of  Bishops.  One  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  clerical  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-iive  lay 
deputies  composed  the  lower  House.  The  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary  of  the  last  Convention  were  re- 
elected. The  diocese  of  California  was  admitted 
into  union.  The  discussion  on  the  "  memorial " 
question  was  settled  by  the  adoption  of  the  follow- 
ing preamble  and  resolutions  by  the  House  of  Bish- 
ops, and  by  the  appointment  of  a  Committee  on 
Church  Unity.  • 

Whereas,  The  use  of  tlie  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  as  regu- 
lated by  custom,  has  special  reference  to  established  parish 
Churches,  and  to  a  population  already  incorporated  with  the 
Church. 

And  Whereas,  Our  actual  work  is,  or  should  be,  among 
many  not  yet  connected  with  our  congregations,  or  where 
there  are  no  established  parishes,  and  where  said  parishes  are 
yet  in  their  infancy. 

And  Wiereas,  There  are  or  may  be  in  different  dioceses, 
peculiar  emergencies  arising  out  of  the  character  or  condition 
of  certain  portions  of  the  population,  which  demand  some 
special  services. 

And  Whereas,  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer  should  be  so 
used  as  most  effectively  to  cherish  true  devotion,  and  set  forth 


198        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

the  Gospel  and  work  of  Christ,  and  contribute  to  the  extension 
of  his  kingdom  among  men. 

And  Whereas,  The  House  of  Bishops  have  heretofore  ex- 
pressed opinions  as  to  usages  which  may  be  allowed  under  ex- 
isting rubrics  and  Canons  ;  therefore 

Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  the  Bishops,^ 

1.  That  the  order  of  Morning  Prayer,  the  Litany,  and  the 
Cbmniunion  Service,  being  separate  offices,  may,  as  in  former 
times,  be  used  separately,  under  the  advice  of  the  Bishop  of 
the  diocese, 

2.  That  on  special  occasions,  or  at  extraordinary  services, 
not  otherwise  provided  for,  ministers  may,  at  their  discretion, 
use  such  part  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  such  les- 
son or  lessons  from  Holy  Scripture,  as  shall,  in  their  judgment, 
tend  most  to  edification. 

3.  That  the  Bishops  of  the  several  Dioceses  may  provide 
such  special  services  as  in  their  judgment  shall  be  required  by 
the  peculiar  spiritual  necessities  of  any  class  or  portion  of  the 
population  within  said  dioceses,  provided  that  such  services 
shall  not  take  the  place  of  the  services  or  offices  of  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  in  congregations  capable  of  its  use. 

4.  That  in  view  of  the  desirableness  of  union  amongst 
Christians  ;  and  as  a  pledge  of  a  willingness  to  communicate 
and  receive  information  tending  to  that  end  ;  and  in  order  to 
conference,  if  (^icasion  or  opportunity  should  occur,  this  House 
will  appoint,  by  ballot,  a  committee  of  five  Bishops  as  an 
organ  of  communication  or  conference,  with  such  Christian 
bodies  or  individuals  as  may  desire  it,  to  be  entitled  the  Cmn- 
mission  on  Church  Unity. 

5.  That  in  making  the  above  appointment,  it  is  distinctly 
understood  that  the  Commission  is  clothed  with  no  authority 
to  mature  plans  of  union  with  other  Christian  bodies,  or  to 
propound  expositions  of  doctrine  and  discipline. 

Bishops  Brownell,  Hopkins,  Mcllvaine,  Elliott, 
and  Burgess  were  appointed  on  the  Commission 
provided  in  the  above  resolutions. 

Measures  were  taken  to  secure  the  preparation 
of  an  authorized  "  Tune-Book,"  "  with  a  preface 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  199 

containing  suggestions  as  to  the  best  means  of  pro- 
moting a  more  simple,  devotional,  and  general  uni- 
form singing  of  the  praises  of  Almighty  God  in 
our  congregations."  A  Canon  ''  On  Episcopal  Kesi- 
dence"  had  "  the  operation  of  law"  by  failure  of 
the  House  of  Bishops  to  signify  their  approval  or 
refusal  thereof  with  reasons  within  three  days.  A 
memorial  from  the  Church  of  the  Advent  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  occasioned  the  passage  of  a  Canon 
"  Of  Episcopal  Visitations."  Other  Canons  enacted 
at  this  session  are — Of  Episcopal  Eesidence ;  Of 
Candidates  for  Orders  ;  Of  Deacons  ;  Of  the  Ordi- 
nation of  Priests  ;  Of  Clerical  Eesidence  and  Ke- 
moval  ;  Of  the  Election  and  Institution  of  Minis- 
ters into  Parishes  or  Churches ;  Of  Expenses ;  of 
Election  of  a  Missionary  Bishop  to  a  Diocesan 
Epicopate  ;  Of  Missionary  Bishops  within  the 
United  States  ;  Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop.  The 
amendments  to  Art.  2  and  Art.  5  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, proposed  at  the  last  Convention,  were  ratified. 
The  proposed  amendment  of  Art.  6  was  rejected. 
Amendments  to  Articles  3  and  4  were  adopted, 
subject  to  confirmation  at  the  next  session.  An 
elaborate  series  of  canons  of  discipline,  reported  by 
the  special  joint  committee  on  the  judicial  system 
of  the  Church,  a  committee  composed  of  Bishops 
Whittingham,  Ilpfold  and  De  Lancey,  Drs.  Cooper 
Mead,  Stevens,  A.  H.  Yinton  and  Higbee,  and 
Hugh  Davey  Evans,  LL.D.,  Ezekiel  F.  Chambers, 
LL.D.,  and  Murray  Hoifman,  LL.D.,  failed  of  en- 
actment, after  long  discussion.  A  Canon  providing 
for  the  settlement  of  differences  arising  between  a 
Bishop  and  a  parish  within  hk  diocese,  by  a  council 


200  THE   GENERA T-   CONVENTION 

of  neighboring  Bishops,  was  reierred  to  the  next 
Convention.  The  Bisnops  appointed  a  committee 
on  Church  Music  ;  and  both  Houses  united  in  the 
assignment  to  a  joint  committee,  of  the  subject  of 
friendly  intercourse  with  the  Church  of  Sweden. 
A  joint  committee  was  instructed  to  prepare  a  digest 
of  the  Canons  of  the  Church,  and  other  committees 
were  appointed  on  the  Foreign  Missionary  Work  of 
the  Church,  and  on  a  Spanish  Prayer  Book.  An  act 
of  remission,  relieving  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania, 
Dr.  H.  TJ.  Onderdonk,  from  suspension,  was  pass- 
ed by  the  Bishops  in  council  and  afterwards  enter- 
ed on  the  Journal  of  the  House  as  follows  : 

To  all  the  members   of  the   Holy  Catliolic   and   Reformed 
Church  of  Christ,  throughout  the  world  : 

Grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  We, 
the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  having  duly  considered  the  application  of 
Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  Bishop  of 
the  said  Church,  to  be  relieved  from  the  sentence  of  suspen- 
sion, passed  upon  him  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  assembled  in 
General  Convention,  at  Philadelphia,  October  21st,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1844,  and  being  satisfied  by  the  evidence  laid  be- 
fore us,  that  he  has  led,  during  the  twelve  years  which  have 
elapsed  since  the  said  sentence  was  pronounced,  a  sober,  godly, 
and  blameless  life,  and  that  the  general  mind  of  the  Church, 
so  far  as  it  could  be  ascertained  from  the  memorials  addressed 
to  us  by  a  large  number  of  the  clerical  and  lay  deputies  of 
the  General  Convention,  now  in  session,  and  others,  earnestly 
desires  that  the  said  sentence  should  be  remitted  in  accordance 
with  the  said  application  ;  have  therefore  decreed,  in  pur- 
suance of  our  Canonical  power  and  discretion,  as  follows,  viz.  : 
That  the  said  Henry  Ustick  Onderdonk,  Doctor  of  Divinity, 
and  Bishop  as  aforesaid,  be  relieved  from  the  said  sentence  of 
suspension,  and  that  he  stand  before  the  Church  restored  to 
his  proper  functions  in  the  ministry  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
according  to  the  Canons,  with  full  power  and  liberty  to  exer- 
cise the  Fame. 


OF   THE    A>1EKi.CAN    CHURCH.  201 

In  witness  whereof,  w ;   \va\\^  Hereunto  set  our  hands,   in 
General  Convention,  at  liie  Ciiurch  of  St.   Luke,  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  this  21st  day  of  October,  a.d.  1856. 
Signed  by  Bishops  Hopkins,  Otey,  Kemper,  McCoskry,  Polk, 
De  Lansey,  Whittingham,  Elliott,  Lee,  Cobbs,  Hawks,  Free- 
man, A.  Potter,  Upfold,  Williams,  Atkinson,  Scott,  Lee,  H. 
Potter,  and  Clark, 

The  nomination  of  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  L.  Clark, 
of  Connecticut,  to  the  Episcopate  of  Nebraska 
and  Kansas,  failed  of  coniirmation  in  the  House  of 
Deputies.,  The  resolution  respecting  the  adoption 
of  the  provincial  system  was  indefinitely  postponed 
by  the  Bishops,  who  also  negatived  a  proposition 
to  limit  the  term  of  the  presidency  of  the  senior 
Bishops.  The  republication  of  previous  Journals 
was  again  voted,  and  a  Committee  of  Bishops  ap- 
pointed to  revise  the  "  Course  of  Ecclesiastical 
Study."  In  the  House  of  Deputies  a  decision  of 
the  chair  that  a' question  lost  by  non-concurrence 
of  orders  was  not  "determined  in  the  negative," 
and  could  be  presented  essentially  in  an  altered 
form,  w^as  sustained,  an  appeal  from  the  decision 
being  laid  on  the  table. 

In  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  resignation  of 
jurisdiction  by  the  Bishop  of  Illinois  was  refused. 
An  interesting  correspondence  between  a  commis- 
sion of  American  Bishops  and  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  respecting  Episcopal  jurisdiction  in 
China,  is  printed  in  the  Appendix.  Eighteen  hun- 
dred and  twenty-eight  clergy  are  reported  in  thirty- 
one  dioceses,  and,  with  those  in  missipiiary  juris- 
dictions, made  the  number  eighteen  hundred  and 
forty-three. 


202  THE   GENERAL   OOlsVKJsTIOX 


THE   CONYENTION   OF  1859. 

In  1859,  the  General  Convention  met  in  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Eichniond,  Ya.,  continuing  in  ses- 
sion from  October  5th  to  October  22d,  inclusive. 
Thirty-six  Bishops  were  present;  the  presiding 
Bishop,  Eight  Eev.  Dr.  Brownell,  and  the  Bishop 
of  California  being  the  only  absentees.  The  Bishop 
of  Virginia  presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops.  In 
the  lower  House,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one 
clerical  and  one  hundred  and  six  lay  deputies  were 
in  attendance.  The  officers  of  the  last  session  were 
re-elected.  Minnesota  and  Kansas  were  admitted 
into  union  with  the  Convention.  The  Episcopate 
of  the  American  Church  was  at  length  made  co- 
extensive with  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States 
by  the  election  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Talbot  as  Mission- 
ary Bishop  of  Nebraska  and  tlie  Korth-west,  the 
Eev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Clark,  who  had  been  iirst  chosen, 
having  declined ;  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  Lay  to  the  Mis- 
sionary Episcopate  to  the  South-west ;  and  at  this 
evidence  that  God  had  been  with  his  Church  till 
she  had  Ulled  the  land  from  shore  to  shore,  the  vast 
assembly  of  deputies  and  spectators  sought  expres- 
sion of  their  thankfulness  in  the  spontaneous  burst 
of  song  in  the  Gloria  in  JExcelsis  Deo,  A  lay 
committee  of  one  from  each  diocese,  designed  to 
bring  out  more  fully  to  the  service  and  glory  of 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCn.  203 

God  the  latent  strength  among  the  laity  of  the 
Church,  was  formed,  and  initiated  results  with 
which  the  Church  is  still  being  blessed.  The  set- 
tlement of  differences  between  clergymen  and 
their  parishes  ;  the  provision  against  clerical  intru- 
sion ;  the  recognition  of  churches  of  our  com- 
munion abroad  ;  the  consecration  of  Bishops  during 
the  recess  of  General  Convention ;  the  appoint- 
ment of  standing  committees  in  missionary  juris- 
dictions ;  the  abandonment  of  the  ministry  by  a 
Bishop,  and  by  a  presbyter ;  the  vacancy  in  a 
Missionary  Episcopate;  letters  of  transfer;  the 
trial  of  ministers  under  the  jurisdiction  of  For- 
eign Missionary  Bishops,  and  several  provisions 
respecting  the  repeal,  amendment,  enactment,  and 
taking  effect  of  new  Canons,  and  of  notices  or 
citation,  were  subjects  of  canonical  enactments. 
The  defeat  of  the  plan  proposed  for  a  court  of  ap- 
peals was  so  decisive,  that  the  question  has  hardly 
been  mooted  on  the  floor  of  the  Convention  since. 
The  body  of  Canons,  as  digested  and  compactly 
codified,  was  adopted,  and  thus  made  available  for 
easy  reference  and  use.  A  committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  secure  the  republication  of  the  early  Journals 
of  the  Convention  with  historical  notes.  The  resis:- 
nation  of  the  Missionary  Episcopate  of  the  North- 
west by  the  venerable  Kemper,  now  full  of  years 
and  full  of  labors,  was  accouipanied  by  the  expres- 
sion by  both  Houses  of  the  Church's  gratitude  and 
love.  Joint  committees  were  appointed  to  devise 
a  plan  for  the  creation  of  a  Church  Building  Fund 
for  assisting  feeble  parishes  and  mission  stations ; 


204        THE  GENEKAL  CONVENTION 

on  Metrical  Psalmody  and  Hymnody ;  on  Spanish 
and  Portuguese  versions  of  the  Prayer  Book  ;  while 
a  Commission  of  Bishops  liad  committed  to  its 
care  the  subject  of  opening  communication  with 
sister  and  foreign  Churches.  It  was  resolved 
''  that  the  clerical  and  lay  deputies  from  the  diocese 
in  which  the  General  Convention  is  to  hold  its 
session,  be  a  committee  to  make  all  the  arrange- 
ments necessary  therefor."  "  The  great  subject  of 
the  Christian  education  of  the  youth  of  our  Church, 
as  well  in  the  family  as  in  our  Church  schools  and 
colleges,"  was  referred  as  a  "  special  matter  of  in- 
terest," to  the  consideration  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Laity.  The  action  of  the  House  of  Bishops 
touching  the  "  Memorial "  question,  gave  rise  to 
animated  discussion  in  the  House  of  Deputies,  it 
being  alleged  that  these  resolutions  of  the  Bishops 
had  "  disturbed  the  uniformity  of  worship,"  and 
had  been  received  "  as  lawful  authority  for  deviat- 
ing from  the  Eubric."  It  was  further  urged  that 
such  changes  could  not  be  lawfully  made,  save  by 
joint  action  of  both  Houses,  and  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  Constitution.  A  special  com- 
mittee, of  which  the  celebrated  canonist  Dr.  Fran- 
cis L.  Hawks  was  chairman,  pronounced  the  action 
of  the  Bishops  "  an  exercise  of  legislative  authority" 
and  "an  infringement  of  the  privileges  of  the 
House"  of  Deputies.  Finally,  action  was  taken  in 
the  following  form  : 

Whereas,  The  preamble  and  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
House  of  Bishops  on  the  18th  day  of  the  last  session  of  the 
General  Convention,  in  relation  to  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Com- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  205 

mon  Prayer,  and  published  in  the  Journal  of  the  said  Conven- 
tion, have  disturbed  the  minds  of  many  in  our  Church,  creat- 
ing doubts  both  as  to  the  effect  of  said  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions, and  as  to  the  constitutionality  of  the  mode  in  which 
they  were  adopted  and  published  ;  therefore 

Resohed,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  is  hereby  respectfully 
requested  to  reconsider  the  said  preamble  and  resolutions,  and 
to  throw  the  subject-matter  into  such  shape  as  will  admit  of 
the  joint  action  of  both  Houses  of  this  Convention. 

In  response  to  this,  the  House  of  Bishops 

Resolved,  That  the  action  of  the  Bishops  at  the  Convention 
of  1856  on  the  subject  indicated  in  the  resolution  of  the  House 
of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  having  been  preceded  by  the  de- 
liberations of  a  commission  appointed  at  the  Convention  of 
1853,  and  also  by  much  deliberation  and  discussion  in  the 
House  of  Bishops  at  both  Conventions,  the  House  of  Bishops 
are  not  prepared  at  this  very  late  hour  of  the  session  to  take 
any  action  which  may  seem  to  involve  the  reconsideration  of 
their  former  action. 

The  proposed  amendments  to  Articles  3  and  4 
of  the  Constitution  were  not  ratified.  At  this  Con- 
vention the  Bishop  of  Maine  presented  to  the 
House  of  Bishops  ''a  catalogue,  in  chronological 
order,  of  all  persons  admitted  to  Deacons'  Orders 
by  the  Bishops  of  this  Church,  since  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Episcopate."  The  Commission  on 
Church  Unity  was  continued.  The  Committee  on 
the  Course  of  Theological  Study  was  also  continued. 
The  Bishop  of  Illinois  was  unanimously  requested 
and  advised  by  the  House  of  Bishops  "  to  transfer, 
as  speedily  as  may  be,  the  residence  of  his  family 
to  Illinois."  The  publication  of  a  "  Tune-Book  " 
was   reported  to  the  Bishops,  and  the  committee 


206        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


thereon  continued.     The  following:  resohitions  were 


t) 


adopted  by  concurrent  vote  : 


Besolved,  That  it  is  tlie  duty  of  every  member  of  tlie  Church 
to  consecrate  a  definite  percentage  of  his  income  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour.         '* 

Resolved,  That  systematic  and  frequent  offerings  by  persons 
and  parishes,  according  to  tlieir  ability,  must  be  mainly  relied 
upon,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  for  the  enlargement  of  the 
benevolent  operations  of  the  Church. 

Besolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  clergymen  in  charge 
of  parishes,  to  bring  their  flocks  as  near  as  practicable  to  com- 
pliance with  the  spirit  of  the  apostolic  direction  of  the  Church 
of  Corinth — "  Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every  one  of 
you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath  prospered  Mm."  And  that 
to  this  end  the  clergy  bring  the  subject  especially  to  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people,  some  time  during  the  Advent  season  of  each 
year. 

The  unanimous  concurrence  of  the  Bishops  in 
these  resolutions  was  accompanied  with  a  request 
that  the  clergy  should  read  them  to  their  congrega- 
tions. The  parochial  clergy  were  also  requested  by 
the  House  of  Deputies  "to  bring  the  Church's 
pressing  need  of  additional  laborers  before  their 
respective  congregations,  especially  in  the  Ember 
seasons"  ;  to  solicit  offerings  for  the  education  of 
candidates,  and  to  urge  "  a  more  liberal  and  effect- 
ive patronage"  of  the  training  schools  and  col- 
leges of  the  Church.  In  the  House  of  Bishops  the 
following  action  w^as  taken  relating  to  the  subject 
of  Church  music : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops  there 
is  very  much  in  the  prevailing  manner  of  conducting  those 
parts  of  our  public  worship  which  require  the  aid  of  sacred 
music,  to  which  the  serious  attention  of  the  clergy  and  their 


OF  THE   AMERICAN  CHURCH.  207 

congregations  sliould  be  directed — as  not  only  not  promotive 
of  a  devout  spirit,  but  very  injurious  thereto  ;  as  directly  cal- 
culated to  nurture  a  lifeless  formality  by  making  the  congre- 
gation mere  passive  listeners  to  musical  sounds,   confined  to 
choirs,  in  the  formation  of  which  there  is  often  little  reference 
to   fitness  of  personal  character  ;    as  virtually  depriving  the 
congregation  of  their  proper  privilege  of  uniting  with  their 
voices  in  the  worship  of  the  Church  when  its  words  are  sung 
as  well  as  when  only  read  ;  as   impairing  the  beautiful  sim- 
plicity of  our  public  worship,  and  thus  rendering  it,  in  the 
parts  referred  to,  unadapted  to   the   greater  number  of  our 
people,  and  so  taking  therefrom  one  of  its  chief  excellencies, 
2is\>eii\g  Common  Prayer,   accommodated  to  all  conditions  of 
Christian  people ;  as  causing,  moreover,  a  needless  delay  and 
interruption  of  our  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  by  the  intro- 
duction of  music,  especially  such  as  is  merely  instrumental, 
which  unprofitably  and  needlessly  abridges  the  time  allotted  to 
the  preaching  of  the  Word,   and,   by  fatiguing  the  hearers, 
both  in  body  and  mind,  interferes  with  their  ability  rightly  to 
receive  the  same  ;  and  lastly,  as  creating  in  all  these  particu- 
lars  an  infiuence  which,  in  our  opinion,  is  decidedly  counter- 
active of  the  proper  work  of  God's  Church,  as  his  appointed 
instrument  of  cherishing  and  promoting  his  worship  in  spirit 
and  in  truth. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  the 
evils  referred  to  proceed  chiefly  from  the  following  causes, 
namely  :  First,  from  an  oversight  of  the  principle  that  the 
object  of  Church  music  is  not  the  gratification  of  a  cultivated 
musical  taste,  but  by  the  aid  of  simple  and  appropriate  music, 
to  cultivate  devout  affections  among  all  classes  of  worshipping 
people,  and  to  enable  them  to  commune  with  one  another  in 
the  united  and  animated  expression  of  the  same. 

Secondly,  from  the  selection  by  organists  and  choirs  of  such 
tunes  and  chants  as,  on  account  of  their  not  being  sufficiently 
familiar  to  the  congregation,  or  from  their  want  of  due  sim- 
plicity, the  congregation  can  not  be  expected  to  unite  in  singing. 
Thirdly,  from  the  use  of  musical  compositions,  especially 
such  as  are  called  chants,  which  require  too  much  time  in  the 
performance,  and  also  from  the  introduction  of  voluntaries  on 
the  organ,  before  the  chants,  and  between  the  verses  of  psalms 


208        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

and  hymns,  which,  having  no  value  hut  as  exhibitions  of  in- 
strumental music,  are  wearying  to  the  congregation. 

Lastly,  from  the  extent  to  which  the  control  of  this  part  of 
the  worship  of  the  Church  is  virtually  taken  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  rectory  of  parishes,  where  alone  the  Church  law  has 
placed  it,  and  is  exercised  by  committees  and  vestries,  and 
chiefly  by  organists  and  choirs. 

Mesolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops  there 
can  be  no  material  improvement  of  our  public  worship  in  the 
particulars  mentioned,  except  as  each  Parish  Minister  shall 
perform  the  duty  assigned  him  by  the  law  of  this  Church, 
which,  in  the  words  of  the  Rubric,  is  that  "  with  such  assist- 
ance as  he  can  obtain  from  persons  skilled  in  music,  he  shall 
give  order  concerning  the  tunes  to  be  sung  at  any  time  in  his 
church,  and  especially  shall  suppress  all  light  and  unseemly 
music,  and  all  indecency  and  irreverence  in  the  performance." 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  the  pastors  of  our 
churches,  that  they  endeavor  by  all  suitable  measures  to  pro- 
mote a  general  participation  of  their  people,  by  voice,  in  those 
parts  of  our  worship  which  are  sung,  as  well  as  those  which 
are  not. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  it  is 
particularly  incumbent  on  the  rectors  in  our  larger  and  older 
cities,  to  see  that  the  music  of  their  churches  be  so  conducted 
as  to  afford  a  wholesome  example  to  those  in  our  humbler  and 
younger  congregations,  who  naturally  look  to  such  sources  for 
guidance  in  matters  of  external  order  and  expediency. 

An  important  report  of  tlie  '^  Typographical 
Corrector,"  with  reference  to  errors  existing  in 
printed  copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptnres,  appears  in 
the  Appendix  to  the  Journal. 

Over  two  thousand  clergy  were  now  reported, 
and  at  none  of  our  triennial  gatherings  has  there 
been  a  moi-e  marked  hospitality,  a  more  generous 
and  large-souled  remembrance  that  all  were  breth- 
ren, and  a  more  hearty  devotion  to  the  Church  of 
God. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHUKCH.  209 


THE   CONVENTION   OF  1862. 

The  Convention  of  1862  met  in  St.  John's  Chap- 
el, in  the  city  of  New- York,  in  troublous  times. 
Its  session  continued  from  October  1st  to  the  ITth, 
inclusive.  But  twenty-four  Bishops  and  twenty-two 
dioceses  were  represented.  The  House  of  Deputies 
contained  but  eighty-two  clerical  and  sixty-three  lay 
members.  Bishop  Brownell,  the  senior  Bishop,  be- 
ing detained  by  illness,  Bishop  Hopkins  presided  in 
the  House  of  Bishops.  The  Kev.  Dr.  Craik,  of 
Kentucky,  was  elected  President  of  the  lower 
House,  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  Kandall  (Dr.  Howe  having 
declined  a  re-election).  Secretary,  wdth  the  Kev.  Dr. 
Clarkson  as  his  assistant.  The  introduction  of  re- 
solutions, having  reference  to  the  disturbed  state  of 
the  country,  occasioned  lengthy  debate  and  absorbed 
the  greater  part  of  the  time  of  this  session.  The 
action  finally  taken  was  the  adoption  of  the  resolu- 
tions reported  by  the  "  Committee  of  Nine,"  as  fol- 
lows : 

Resolved,  By  tlie  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  tins 
stated  Triennial  Convention,  That,  assembling,  as  we  have 
been  called  to  do,  at  a  period  of  great  national  peril  and  deplo- 
rable civil  convulsion,  it  is  meet  and  proper  that  we  should 
call  to  mind,  distinctly  and  publicly,  that  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  hath  ever  held  and  taught, 
in  the  language  of  one  of  its  Articles  of  Religion,  that  'Mt  is 
the  duty  of  all  men  who  are  professors  of  the  Gospel  to  pay 


210  THE    GENE  HAL   CONVENTION 

respectful  obedience  to  the  civil  autliority,  regularly  and  legi- 
timately constituted  ;"  and  hath  accordingly  incorporated  into 
its  Liturgy  "  a  prayer  for  the  President  of  the  United  States 
and  all  in  civil  authority,"  and  "a  prayer  for  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States,  to  be  used  during  their  session  ;"  and  hath 
bound  all  orders  of  its  ministry  to  the  faithful  and  constant 
observance,  in  letter  and  in  spirit,  of  these  and  all  other  parts 
of  its  prescribed  ritual. 

Besolved,  That  we  can  not  be  wholly  blind  to  the  course  which 
has  been  pursued,  in  their  ecclesiastical  as  well  as  in  their  civil 
relations,  since  this  Convention  last  met  in  perfect  harmony 
and  love,  by  great  numbers  of  the  ministers  and  members  of 
this  Church,  within  certain  States  of  our  Union  which  have  ar- 
rayed themselves  in  open  and  armed  resistance  to  the  regularly 
constituted  government  of  our  country ;  and  that  while,  in  a 
spirit  of  Christian  forbearance,  we  refrain  from  employing  to- 
ward them  any  terms  of  condemnation  or  reproach,  and  would 
rather  bow  in  humiliation  before  our  common  Father  in  Heaven 
for  the  sins  which  have  brought  his  judgment  on  our  land, 
we  yet  feel  bound  to  declare  our  solemn  sense  of  the  deep  and 
grievous  wrong  which  they  will  have  inflicted  on  the  great 
Christian  Communion  which  this  Convention  represents,  as 
well  as  on  the  country  within  which  it  has  been  so  happily  and 
harmoniously  established,  should  they  persevere  in  striving  to 
rend  asunder  those  civil  and  religious  bonds  which  have  so  long 
held  us  together  in  peace,  unity,  and  concord. 

Besolved,  That  while,  as  individuals  and  as  citizens,  we  ac- 
knowledge our  whole  duty  in  sustaining  and  defending  our 
country  in  the  great  struggle  in  which  it  is  engaged,  we  are 
only  at  liberty,  as  deputies  to  this  Council  of  a  Church  which 
hath  ever  renounced  all  political  association  and  action,  to 
pledge  to  the  national  government — as  we  now  do — the  earnest 
and  devout  prayers  of  us  all,  that  its  efforts  may  be  so  guided 
by  wisdom  and  replenished  with  strength,  that  they  may  be 
crowned  with  speedy  and  complete  success,  to  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  restoration  of  our  beloved  Union, 

Resolved,  That  if,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Bishops,  any  other 
forms  of  occasional  prayer  than  those  already  set  forth  shall 
seem  desirable  and  appropriate, — whether  for  our  Convention, 
our  Church,  or  our  country,  for  our  rulers  or  our  defenders, 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  211 

or  for  the  sick  and  wounded  and  dying  of  our  army  and  navy 
and  volunteers, — we  shall  gladly  receive  them  and  fervently 
use  them. 

Resolved,  That  a  certified  copy  of  the  foregoing  report  and 
resolutions  be  transmitted  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  in  evidence 
of  the  views  and  feelings  of  this  body  in  reference  to  the 
afflicting  condition  of  our  Church  and  of  our  country. 

Both  Houses,  at  tlie  instance  of  the  House  of 
Bishops,  observed  "  a  day  of  fasting,  liumiliation, 
and  prayer,"  in  view  "  of  the  present  afflictive  con- 
dition of  the  country."     The  following  was  the 

OIIDER  OF  PUBLIC  WORSHIP 

For  Wednesday,  the  Sih  day  of  October,  1SQ2,  at  11  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  in  Trinity  Church,  New-  York. 

Morning  Prayer  as  set  forth,  except  as  follows  : 

Instead  of  the  Venite  shall  be  sung  the  130th  Psalm. 

The  Lessons  shall  be  Isaiah  59  and  Luke  6,  from  the  20th 
verse. 

Psalms  for  the  8th  day,  Morning  Prayer. 

After  the  2d  Lesson  The  Benedict  us. 

To  the  suffrage  in  the  Litany  for  "  unity,  peace,  and  concord 
among  all  nations,"  shall  be  added,— "awtZ  especially  to  this 
nation  noio  afflicted  by  grievous  war. " 

Immediately  after  the  General  Thanksgiving  shall  be  said 
the  following  : 

Almighty  and  most  Holy  Lord  our  God,  who  dost  command 
us  to  humble  ourselves  under  Thy  Almighty  hand  that  thou 
mayest  exalt  us  in  due  time,  we,  Thy  unworthy  servants,  desire 
most  humbly  to  confess  before  Thee,  in  this  the  time  of  sore 
affliction  in  our  land,  how  deeply  as  a  nation  we  deserve  Thy 
wrath.  In  the  great  calamities  which  in  Thy  righteous  Provi- 
dence have  come  upon  us,  we  acknowledge  and  bow  down  our 
souls  under  the  Mighty  Hand  of  our  Holy  and  Merciful  God 
and  Father.  Manifold  are  our  sins  and  transgressions,  and  the 
more  sinful  l^ecause  of  the  abundance  of  our  privilege  and 
mercies  under  Thy  Providence  and  Grace.  In  pride  and  living 
unto  ourselves  ;  in  covetousness  and  all  worldliness  of  mind  ; 


212        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTIOX 

in  self-sufl&ciency  and  independence  ;  in  glorying  in  our  own 
wisdom,  and  riches,  and  strength,  instead  of  glorying  only 
in  Thee  ;  in  making  our  boast  of  Thy  unmerited  blessings,  as 
if  our  own  might  and  wisdom  had  gotten  them,  instead  of  ac- 
knowledging Thee  in  all  and  seeking  first  Thy  Kingdom  and 
Righteousness ;  in  profaneness  of  speech  and  ungodliness  of 
life  ;  in  polluting  thy  Sabbaths  and  receiving  in  vain  Thy 
Grace  in  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  acknowledge, 
0  Lord,  that  as  a  nation  and  people  we  have  grievously  sinned 
against  Thy  Divine  Majesty,  provoking  most  justly  Thy  wrath 
and  indignation  against  us.  Righteousness  belongeth  unto 
Thee  ;  but  unto  us  confusion  of  face.  Because  Thy  compas- 
sions have  not  failed,  therefore  we  are  not  consumed.  Make  us 
earnestly  to  repent  And  heartily  to  be  sorry  for  these  our  mis- 
doings. May  the  remembrance  of  them  be  grievous  unto  us. 
Turn  unto  Thee,  O  Lord,  the  hearts  of  all  this  people,  in  hu- 
miliation and  prayer,  that  Thou  mayest  have  compassion  upon 
us  and  deliver  us.  When  Thy  judgments  are  thus  upon  us, 
may  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  learn  righteousness.  Have 
mercy  upon  us,  have  mercy  upon  us,  most  Merciful  Father. 
For  Thy  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  forgive  us  all  that 
is  past,  and  grant  that  we.  may  ever  hereafter  serve  and  please 
Thee  in  newness  of  life,  to  the  Honor  and  Glory  of  Thy  name. 
We  beseech  Thee  so  to  sanctify  unto  us  our  present  distresses, 
and  so  to  make  haste  to  deliver  us,  that  war  shall  be  no  more 
in  all  our  borders,  and  that  all  opposition  to  the  lawful  govern- 
ment of  the  land  shall  utterly  cease.  May  our  brethren  who 
seek  the  dismemberment  of  our  National  Union,  under  which 
this  people  by  Thy  Providence  have  been  so  signally  prospered 
and  blessed,  be  convinced  of  their  error  and  restored  to  a  bet- 
ter mind.  Grant  that  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and 
malice,  may  be  put  away  from  them  and  us,  and  that  brotherly 
love  and  fellowship  may  be  established  among  us  to  all  gene- 
rations. Thus  may  the  land  bring  forth  her  increase,  under 
the  blessings  of  peace,  and  Thy  people  serve  Thee  in  all  godly 
quietness,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

Grjint,  0  Lord,  we  beseech  Thee,  to  all  such  as  are  intrusted 
with  the  government  and  protection  of  this  Nation,  Thy  most 
gracious  support  and  guidance.  Graft  in  their  hearts  a  deep 
Bcnie  of  dependence  on  Thy  wisdom,  and  power,  and  favor, 


OF  THE  AMERICAN   CHURCH  213 

and  incline  them  with  all  humility  to  seek  the  same.  In  all 
their  ways  may  they  dutifully  acknowledge  Thee,  that  Thou 
mayest  direct  their  steps.  Make  Thy  word  to  be  their  light, 
their  service,  their  glory,  and  Thine  arm  their  strength.  Fur- 
ther them  with  Thy  continual  help,  that  in  all  their  works  be- 
gun, continued,  and  ended,  they  may  glorify  Thy  holy  Name. 
Under  their  heavy  burdens  and  trials,  be  Thou  their  chosen 
refuge  and  consolation.  By  their  counsels  and  measures,  under 
Thy  blessing,  may  the  wounds  of  the  nation  be  speedily  heal- 
ed. For  those,  our  brethren,  who  have  gone  forth  for  our  de- 
fense,  by  land  and  water,  we  seek  Thy  most  gracious  blessing 
and  protection.  In  every  duty  and  danger  be  their  present  help. 
In  all  privations  and  sufferings,  give  them  patience  and  resigna- 
tion, and  a  heart  to  seek  their  comfort  in  Thee.  May  they  be 
strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  Power  of  his  Might,  hating  ini- 
quity, fearing  God,  and  obeying  Thy  word.  Give  them  success 
in  every  enterprise  that  shall  be  pleasing  to  Thee.  Visit  with 
Thy  salvation  the  sick,  the  wounded,  the  prisoner,  and  all  such 
as  shall  be  bereaved  of  dear  relatives  and  friends,  by  reason  of 
the  present  calamities.  Prepare  to  meet  Thee  all  those  who 
shall  die  in  this  conflict ;  give  them  repentance  unto  life  and  a 
saving  faith  in  Jesus,  that  they  may  be  received  unto  Thyself  ; 
and  at  last  unite  us  all  together  in  the  blessedness  of  Thy 
everlasting  Kingdom,  through  Him  who  liveth  and  reigneth 
with  Thee  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  ever  one  God,  world  without 
end.     Amen. 

Let  Thy  continual  pity,  O  Lord,  cleanse  and  defend  Thy 
Church  ;  and  in  these  days  of  sore  trial  to  Thy  people,  raise 
up  Thy  great  power  and  come  among  us,  and  with  great  might 
succor  us.  Grant  that  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost  all 
Christians  may  be  so  joined  together  in  unity  of  spirit  and  in 
the  bond  of  peace,  that  they  may  be  a  holy  temple,  acceptable 
unto  Thee.  May  all  councils  of  dissension  and  division  be 
brought  to  nought.  Increase  our  faith,  and  love,  and  zeal  in 
Thy  service,  and  for  the  coming  of  Thy  Kingdom.  Make  the 
whole  Church  a  light  in  the  world,  and  the  more  her  afflictions 
abound,  the  more  may  her  consolations  also  abound  by  Christ, 
to  the  praise  and  glory  of  His  name.     Ainen. 

After  Morning  Prayer  shall  be  sung  the  101st  selection  of 
Psalms. 


214        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Then  eliall  follow  the  Collect  with  the  Beveral  Prayers  fol- 
lowing the  same,  and  the  Epistle  and  Gospel  for  Ash  Wednes- 
day ;  after  which  the  80th  hymn. 

Before  the  Benediction  shall  be  said  the  following  : 
O  Eternal  God,  who  makest  men  to  be  of  one  mind  in  a 
house,  and  stillest  the  angry  passions  of  the  people,  we  humbly 
beseech  Thee  of  Thine  infinite  mercy  to  appease  the  tumults 
among  us,  to  bring  to  an  end  the  dreadful  strife  which  is  now 
raging  in  our  land,  and  to  restore  peace  in  our  afflicted  coun- 
try. And  we  most  humbly  beseech  Thee  to  grant  to  all  of  us 
grace  to  walk  henceforth  obediently  in  Thy  Holy  Command- 
ments, so  that,  leading  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godli- 
ness and  honesty,  we  may  continually  offer  unto  Thee  our  sac- 
rifice of  praise  and  thanksgiving  ;  and  we  beseech  Thee,  also, 
O  Righteous  Father,  to  whom  it  justly  belongeth  to  punish 
sinners,  and  to  be  merciful  to  those  who  truly  repent,  give  us 
grace  humbly  to  acknowledge  that  our  grievous  sins  have 
brought  these  Thy  sore  judgments  upon  us.  Be  not  angry  with 
ns  forever  ;  but  help  us  so  truly  to  repent  us  of  our  sins,  that 
we  may  be  saved  from  the  fruits  of  our  wickedness,  that  Thy 
displeasure  may  be  removed  from  us,  and  that  we  may  again 
with  thankful  hearts  glorify  Thee,  the  only  giver  of  peace  and 
safety,  through  the  merits  of  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

The  alms  offered  at  this  solemn  service  were 
devoted  to  purposes  of  the  "  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion." 

The  Committee  on  Ilymnodv  were  instructed 
to  prepare  and  report  to  the  next  Convention  "  a 
body  of  additional  hynms,"  as  well  as  to  revise  the 
Psalms  and  Ilymns  in  use.  Committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  consider  "  the  expediency  of  holding 
communication  with  the  Russo-Greek  Church," 
and  "  on  the  Special  Services  in  the  Prayer  Book  " 
(section  14,  of  Canon  13,  and  Canon  20  of  Title  I. 
of  the  Digest).     The  House  of  Bishops  appointed 


I 


OF  THE  amp:kican  chukch.  215 

a  Comraittee  "  on  Organizing  the  Services  of  Chris- 
tian Women." 

The  resignation  of  the  Missionary  Bishop  of  Ore- 
gon was  not  accepted.  The  Committee  on  the 
State  of  the  Church  reported  ''  an  increased  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  Christian  education."  The 
House  of  Deputies,  agreeably  to  its  uniform  prac- 
tice, refused  to  allow  a  "protest"  against  its  action 
to  be  entered  upon  the  Journal  of  the  Houses.  The 
"  Typographical  Corrector  "  reported  that 

A  Bible  wliicli,  witli  tlie  reinsertion  of  the  omitted  references 
to  the  Apocrypha,  should  make  the  Oxford  Quarto  Edition  of 
1852  its  model,  would  present  as  perfect  an  edition  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  as  human  art  or  skill  in  the  present  day  could 
effect. 

The  Church  Building  Committee  was  discharged 
"in  view  of  the  present  condition  of  monetary  affairs." 
At  the  request  of  the  respective  Diocesan  Conven- 
tions, the  boundaries  of  the  Diocese  of  Kansas  were 
changed  to  conform  with  those  of  the  State,  and  a 
parish  in  Massachusetts  transferred  to  the  Diocese 
of  Rhode  Island.  In  the  latter  case,  the  Committee 
on  Canons  presented  the  following  report : 

This  Committee  abstain  from  considering  the  question 
whether,  in  strictness,  the  General  Convention  has  any  autho- 
rity or  jurisdiction  upon  the  subject.  The  matter  is,  however, 
submitted  by  the  two  Diocesan  Conventions  concerned,  and  it 
is  within  our  province,  as  well  as  respectful  to  those  bodies,  to 
express  the  opinion  and  give  the  advice  requested. 

Historically  considered,  it  may  be  taken  as  nearly  invariable 
in  point  of  fact  that  the  limits  of  a  Diocese  are  coextensive 
with  the  territorial  limits  of  a  State,  or  of  some  fixed  geogra- 
phical division  thereof.  In  the  first,  second,  fourth,  sixth  and 
ninth  articles  of  the  Constitution,  prior    to   1838,    the  word 


216        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

*'  State"  was  used  where  tlie  word  "  Diocese"  now  occurs,  and 
tlie  fifth  article  contained  only  the  first  paragraph  of  the  present 
article  without  the  word  "  Territory."  In  1838,  that  word  was 
inserted,  and  the  rest  of  that  article  as  it  now  stands  adopted. 
The  important  change  was  also  then  made  of  substituting  the 
word  "  Diocese"  for  the,  word  "  State"  in  the  several  articles 
before  mentioned.  These  specific  changes  are  shown  in  a  note 
to  the  Constitution,  printed  in  the  Digest,  p.  28. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  reasons  for  this  change  of  lan- 
guage— whether  merely  because  the  term  "  Diocese"  was  a 
more  fitting  Ecclesiastical  phrase,  or  for  other  reasons — it  is 
quite  certain  that  in  nearly  all  cases,  if  not  in  all,  the  limits  of 
a  Diocese  at  that  time  were  coextensive  with  the  limits  of  a 
State.  An  exception  was  made  at  the  same  session  in  the  case 
of  the  division  of  the  Diocese  of  New-York.  The  final  act 
for  the  erection  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New-York  soon  took 
place,  and  the  latter  came  into  the  General  Convention  with 
territorial  limits  distinctly  marked  out  and  prescribed. 

Even  the  case  of  the  "Eastern  Diocese,"  as  it  was  termed, 
strengthens  the  present  view.  In  the  Journal  of  the  General 
Convention  of  1811  is  recorded  a  communication  to  the  House 
that  the  Rev.  Alexander  V.  Griswold  had  been  elected  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  composed  of  the  States  of  New-Hampshire, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Vermont,  and  in  the  pro- 
ceedings thereupon  the  Eastern  Diocese  is  spoken  of  and  as 
composed  of  those  States. 

Thus,  then,  when,  for  example,  in  Article  5,  it  is  provided 
that  no  new  Diocese  shall  be  erected  within  the  limits  of  any 
other  Diocese,  these  limits  will,  in  point  of  fact,  be  found  and 
defined  by  distinct  civil  territorial  divisions. 

The  Ecclesiastical  writers  declare  a  Diocese  to  signify  the 
circuit  of  a  Bishop's  jurisdiction,*  and  they  point  out  the  me- 
thods and  rules  by  which,  in  case  of  a  question  of  jurisdiction, 
the  matter  is  to  be  determined  :  the  evidence  and  rules  by 
which  the  bounds  of  a  manor  would  be  found.  In  our  coun- 
try, from  the  facts  thus  stated,  such  difficulty  can  scarcely  be 
imagined  ;  and  the  law  against  intrusion  by  one  Bishop  into 

*  Burn's  Eccl.  Law,  Vol.  ii.,  page  157  a  ;  Cowell's  Interpreter 
in  verbo.     Van  Espen,  Part  1,  Title  16,  Chapter  3. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHI7RCH.  217 

the  Diocese  of  another,  recognized  in  Article  4  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, is  readily  applied.  Diocese,  for  these  and  similar  purposes, 
is,  in  truth,  nearly  synonymous  with  State  or  Territory,  as  a 
fixed  geographical  division  of  one  of  them. 

But  it  does  not  follow  that  upon  the  change  of  the  boundaries 
of  a  State,  by  addition  or  exclusion,  a  corresponding  change  of 
the  limits  of  a  Diocese  is  effected.  On  the  contrary,  many  con- 
siderations appear  to  be  hostile  to  such  a  conclusion. 

The  Ecclesiastical  writers  also  speak  of  a  Diocese  as  composed 
of  many  Parishes  ;*  in  our  more  ordinary  language,  of  many 
Churches,  or  Congregations.  This  recognizes  a  relation  be- 
tween a  Bishop  and  a  Parish  or  Congregation,  involving  mutual 
duties  and  rights.  Some  relations  have  also  been  constituted, 
under  our  system,  between  Churches  or  Congregations  and  Dio- 
cesan Conventions. 

It  appears  to  this  Committee  quite  clear,  that  no  change  of 
the  nature  in  question  can  be  made  without  the  consent  of  the 
Bishop  from  whose  jurisdiction  a  Parish  or  Church  is  to  be 
severed.  It  may  also  be  that  the  consent  of  the  Bishop  to  whom 
the  transfer  would  be  made,  is  necessary.  The  consent  of  the 
particular  Parishes  or  Churches  would  seem  equally  proper, 
and  probably,  that  of  the  Diocesan  Conventions  may  be  re- 
quisite. 

In  the  House  of  Bishops,  two  drafts  of  the  Pas- 
toral Letters  were  presented ;  that  adopted,  being 
the  one  prepared  by  the  Bishop  of  Ohio,  who  pre- 
sided on  occasion  of  its  delivery. 

*  Ex  multis  autem  parochiis  Dioecesis  Episcopalis  constat. 
LiDEN,  quoted  in  the  Dictionary  of  Facciolati  in  verba. 


218        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE    CONVENTION    OF    1865. 

The  Convention  of  1865  met  in  St.  Andrew's 
Chnrch,  Philadelphia,  on  the  4th  of  October,  and 
continued  in  session  until  the  24th  of  the  same 
month.  The  Right  Eev.  John  Henry  Hopkins, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops. 
Of  the  thirty-iive  Bishops  comprising  that  House, 
eight — the  Bishops  of  Georgia,  Virginia,  Mississip- 
pi, Florida,  Connecticut,  Texas,  and  the  Missionary 
Bishop  of  Oregon — were  absent.  Twenty-six  dio- 
ceses were  represented  by  one  hundred  and  four 
clerical  and  eighty-six  lay  deputies.  No  deputa- 
tions attended  from  the  dioceses  of  Alabama,  Flo- 
rida, Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  South-Caro- 
lina, and  Virginia.  The  Metropolitan  of  Canada, 
the  Most  Rev.  Francis  Fulford,  D.D.,  preached  the 
opening  sermon.  The  officers  of  the  House  of  De- 
puties were  re-elected.  The  Diocese  of  New- York 
presented  a  memorial  asking  the  Convention  to  pro- 
vide for  the  organization  of  the  Church  in  the 
United  States  into  Provinces  ;  and  legislation  was 
desired  by  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  federate  councils.  The  Metropoli- 
tan of  Canada ;  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Staley,  Bishop 
of  Honolulu ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Beaven,  Pro- 
locutor of  the  Provincial  Synod,  addressed  the 
House  of  Deputies.     The  transfer  of  the  Missionary 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  219 

Bishop  of  the  Korth-west  to  the  assistancy  of  Indi- 
ana was  sanctioned  by  both  Ilonses.  The  Conven- 
tion gave  its  consent  to  the  division  of  the  Diocese 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  Bishop  of  Tennessee  was 
consecrated.  A  resobition  was  passed  and  ordered 
to  be  printed  as  an  appendix  to  the  Digest  of  the 
Canons,  deprecating  the  bearing  of  arms  by  clergy- 
men. 

The  crowning  event  of  the  Convention  was  the 
reunion  of  the  Church,  which  had  been  in  fact 
separated  by  the  independent  action  of  the  South- 
ern dioceses  during  the  civil  war,  in  organizing  a 
Council,  framing  a  Constitution  and  Canons,  and 
])roceeding  to  the  consecration  of  a  Bishop,  neces- 
sarily without  reference  to  their  former  canonical 
obligations.  The  Bishop  of  Alabama,  the  Eight 
Kev.  Dr.  R.  H.  Wilmer,  who  had  been  consecrated 
during  this  period,  was  received  into  the  Episcopate 
of  the  Church  in  the  United  States,  on  his  signing 
an  equivalent  to  the  promise  of  conformity,  taken 
by  Bishops  of  the  Church  at  consecration. 

Various  propositions  respecting  the  provincial 
system  produced  no  result  through  the  non-concur- 
rence of  the  Bishops  in  a  permissory  canon  of  Fe- 
derate Councils  adopted  by  the  House  of  Deputies. 
In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  the  Bishops  set  forth  sixty-five  additional 
hymns  which  were  licensed  to  be  used  in  public 
worship,  but  were  not  to  be  incorporated  in  the 
Prayer-Book  H^minal  till  adopted  by  the  Conven- 
tion. A  commission  of  Bishops  was  entrusted  with 
power  to  set  forth  from  time  to  time  additional 


220  THE  ge:neral  convention 

lijnins  wliicli  miglit  be  used  in  the  congregations  of 
the  Church  until  the  next  Convention, 

In  the  Ilonse  of  Deputies,  the  Committee  on 
Canons,  to  whom  was  referred  a  resohition  to  in- 
quire into  the  propriety  of  providing  that  the  Rec- 
tor should  have  the  privilege  of  striking  from  the 
list  of  communicants  the  name  of  any  person  who 
may  neglect  for  a  certain  time  to  appear  at  the  com- 
munion-table, reported  that  they  deemed  such  legis- 
lation unnecessary,  inasmuch  as,  in  their  opinion, 
the  "list  of  communicants"  was  a  private  paper, 
entirely  under  the  control  of  the  Rector. 

In  the  House  of  Deputies  it  was 

Resolved,  That  all  those  branches  of  the  Apostolic  Church 
which  accept  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the  Niceno-Constantino- 
politan  Creed,  and  which  reject  the  usurpations  and  innovations 
of  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  are  called,  by  the  course  of  events  and 
the  indications  of  Divine  Providence,  to  renew  those  primitive 
relations  which  the  Roman  schism  has  interrupted. 

The  Committee  on  Canons,  of  the  lower  House, 
to  whom  was  referred  a  resolution  of  inquiry  as 
to  the  expediency  of  the  designation  of  dioceses  by 
the  title  of  the  principal  city  in  each  diocese,  re- 
ported that  without  discussing  or  deciding  upon  the 
constitutional  authority  of  the  Convention  to  effect 
the  proposed  alterations,  they  were  inexpedient  at 
the  present  time.     They  proceed  to  say : 

The  respective  dioceses  have  exercised  the  privilege  of 
naming  themselves,  and  designating  their  title.  A  desire  to 
keep  in  view  the  federative  character  of  the  Church,  in  har- 
mony with  the  civil  and  political  descriptions  which  charac- 
terize us,  and  distinguish  us  from  the  consolidated  govern- 
ments of  Europe,  was  doubtless  influential  in  the  decision, 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  221 


wliicli,  without  exception,  operated  in  giving  the  title  now 
applied  to  our  dioceses  respectively.  The  titles  have  become 
familiar  to  us  who  are  now  members  of  the  Church,  and  to  all 
around  us.  They  are  used  in  our  histories,  and  in  the  writings 
and  memoirs  of  those  who  have  gone  before  us. 

In  tlie  House  of  Bishops,  tlie  Coiniiiittee  on  the 
Prayer-Book,  consisting  of  the  Bishops  of  Maine, 
California,  and  ]N"ew-Jersey,  recommended  the  fol- 
lowing rules  as  to  the  proper  postures  at  baptism 
and  confirmation,  "  as  in  strict  accordance  with  the 
rubrics,  as  sustained  also  by  a  widely  precedent 
usage,  and  as  adapted  by  their  simplicity  to  be 
easily  remembered  and  followed :" 

Ministration  of  Holy  Baptism. — Both  the  minister  and  all 
the  people  are  to  stand  throughout  the  service  till  the  Lord's 
Prayer.  All  are  to  kneel  during  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  the 
prayer  which  follows.  All  are  to  stand  during  the  charge  to 
the  sponsors  in  the  case  of  infant  baptism,  and  to  the  witnesses 
and  the  baptized  persons  in  the  case  of  the  baptism  of  those 
of  riper  years. 

Order  of  Confirmation. — All  are  to  stand  throughout  the 
service  till  the  Lord's  Prayer,  except  that  the  Bishop  may  sit 
during  the  preface  and  the  question  addressed  to  the  candi- 
dates, and  except  also  that  all  the  candidates  are  to  kneel, 
as  directed  by  the  rubrics,  immediately  before  receiving  the 
imposition  of  hands.  All  the  congregation,  as  well  as  the 
Bishop,  are  to  kneel  during  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  the  prayers 
which  follow  ;  and  the  Bishop  alone  is  to  stand  during  the 
blessing  with  which  the  office  closes. 

The  House,  however,  deemed  it  best  to  leave  the 
matter  for  regulation  by  each  Diocesan  Bishop 
within  his  ow^n  jurisdiction. 

A  special  service  was  held  at  St.  Luke's  Church 
as  a  public  expression  of  thanksgiving  to  Almighty 


222  THE   GENERAL   COKVINTloN 

God  for  the  restoration  of   peace  to   the  country 
and  unity  to  the  Church. 
Tlie  service  was  as  follows  : 

Opening  Sentences.— The  Lord's  throne  is  heaven  :  his  king- 
dom ruleth  over  all. 

The  Lord  sitteth  above  the  water-flood,  and  the  Lord  re- 
maineth  a  king  forever. 

The  Lord  shall  give  strength  to  his  people  :  the  Lord  shall 
give  his  people  the  blessing  of  peace. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for  ever  and  ever. 

The  special  lessons  were  Isaiah  xi.  to  verse  10  ;  St.  Matthew 
V.  to  verse  17. 

Special  thanksgiving. 

O  Lord,  most  glorious,  the  shield  of  all  that  trust  in  thee  ; 
who  alone  dost  send  peace  to  thy  people,  and  causest  wars  to 
cease  in  all  the  world  :  for  thy  unspeakable  goodness  towards 
us,  vouchsafe,  we  beseech  thee,  to  receive  the  free-will  offer- 
ing of  our  hearts  and  the  praises  of  our  lips. 

Strong  is  thy  hand,  and  thy  wisdom  is  infinite,  and  thy 
name  is  love.  Therefore  do  we  laud  and  worship  thee,  and 
praise  thy  holy  name,  rejoicing  continually  in  thy  strength 
and  thy  salvation  ;  for  thou  art  the  glory  of  our  power,  and 
by  thy  loving-kindness  we  are  preserved.  Notwithstanding 
the  multitude  of  our  sins,  thou  hast  not  forgotten  to  be  gra- 
cious, but  heapest  blessing  upon  blessing.  To  thee,  therefore, 
O  God,  our  Saviour  and  defender,  who  inhabitest  the  praises 
of  Israel,  we  offer  our  sacrifice  of  thankfulness,  and  adore  thy 
loving-kindness. 

Thou  hast  regarded  us  with  pity  in  thy  beloved  Son ;  and  by 
his  intercession,  passing  by  our  grievous  transgressions,  thou 
hast  healed  our  divisions,  and  restored  peace  to  our  land  and 
the  fellowship  of  thy  Church  ;  so  that,  by  thy  defence,  our 
united  land  may  now  enjoy  rest  and  quietness  and  assurance 
forever.  For  these  and  all  thy  other  mercies,  we  piaise  thee, 
we  bless  thee,  we  glorify  thee,  we  give  thanks  to  thee  for  thy 
great  goodness,  O  Lord  God,  heavenly  King,  God  the  Father 
Almighty. 

We  beseech  thee  to  continue  thy  wonderful  goodness  to  this 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  22t^ 

thy  restored  people,  that  our  light  may  uever  be  removed,  nor 
thy  mighty  acts  be  forgotten  ;  but  confirm,  O  Lord,  thy  work 
to  all  generations.  May  we  be  taught  by  thy  past  corrections  to 
fear  thy  justice,  and  may  we  be  moved  by  thy  long-suffering  to 
love  thy  goodness  and  obey  thy  laws.  Give  us  true  repent- 
ance for  our  sins,  that,  with  our  bodies  and  our  souls  unfeign- 
edly  turning  unto  thee  in  newness  of  life,  we  may  enjoy  the 
continuance  and  increase  of  thy  grace  and  goodness.  Let  no 
root  of  bitterness  spring  up  to  trouble  us,  nor  any  pride  and 
prejudice  hinder  our  godly  concord  and  unity.  Fill  our  hearts 
with  loving- kindness  for  the  destitute  and  ignorant,  and  for 
all  who  need  our  sympathy  and  care.  Make  us  faithful  stew- 
ards of  every  trust  committed  to  vis  in  the  gifts  of  thy  provi- 
dence. 

Be  with  our  rulers  to  guide  their  counsels,  and  to  strengthen 
their  lawful  authority  ;  and  sanctify  the  nation  in  the  solemn 
privileges  of  freedom,  self-government,  and  power.  May  our 
land  be  the  sanctuary  of  civil  liberty  and  religious  truths, 
an  example  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  of  the  righteousness  which 
exalteth  a  nation. 

Hear,  Lord,  and  save  us,  O  King  of  heaven,  when  we  call 
upon  thee  :  so  shall  we.  and  all  thy  Church  and  people,  dwe]  1 
under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings,  protected  by  thy  power,  pre- 
served by  thy  providence,  and  ordered  by  thy  governance,  t  > 
thy  everlasting  praise,  and  our  unspeakable  comfort  in  Jesus 
Christ  our  Saviour  ;  to  whom,  with  thee,  0  Father,  and  thee, 
O  Holy  Ghost,  be  glory  and  praise  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever.     Amen. 

The  twenty-third  selection. 

The  special  collect,  in  the  Ante-Communion  Office,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Most  mighty  God  and  merciful  Father,  who  hast  promised  to 
maintain  and  defend  thy  Church,  so  dearly  purchased  and  re- 
deemed with  the  precious  blood  of  thy  Son  Jesus  Christ  :  in- 
crease in  his  mystical  body  the  spirit  of  unity  and  love, 
and  draw  together  its  members  everywhere  in  one  commu- 
nion and  fellowship  in  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
that  as  there  is  but  one  body,  and  one  spirit,  and  one  hope  of 
our  calling,  so  we  may  henceforth  be  of  one  heart  and  one 
soul,  united  in  one  holy  bond  of  truth  and  peace,  faith  and 


224  THE   GENERAL   CONVEIs'TlON 

charity,  and  may  with  one  mind  and  one  mouth  glorify  thee, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

The  104th  hymn. 

The  offertory  was  for  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Freedmen's 
Commission,  the  first  collection  for  that  object. 

The  special  prayer  before  the  benediction,  as  follows  : 

O  Almighty  Father,  the  God  of  peace  and  love,  we  beseech 
thee  to  enable  us  to  put  away  from  us  all  strife,  envy,  and 
malice,  as  becometh  thy  people  ;  and  that  our  late  trials,  under 
the  guidance  of  thy  providence  and  Holy  Spirit,  may  be  over- 
ruled for  the  furtherance  of  the  (Gospel  in  this  land  and 
throughout  the  earth.  All  which  we  ask  for  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.     Amen. 

The  election  of  the  Jiev.  Dr.  Clarkson  to  the 
Missionary  Episcopate  of  Nebraska,  and  the  'Rev, 
Dr.  Eandali  to  the  Missionary  Episcopate  of  Colo- 
rado, and  the  Rev.  Channing  Moore  Williams  to 
the  Missionary  Episcopate  of  China,  was  unani- 
mons  in  each  case.  The  choice  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Howe,  long  the  efficient  secretary  of  the  House  of 
Deputies,  to  the  Missionary  Episcopate  of  Nevada, 
was  not  consummated,  as  Dr.  Howe  declined  the 
appointment. 

The  nominations  of  the  Eev.  M.  C.  Lightner  as 
Missionary  Bishop  of  Colorado,  and  the  R-ev.  Robert 
J.  Parvin  to  the  Missionary  Episcopate  of  Nevada, 
were  not  confirmed  by  the  House  of  Deputies. 
The  resolutions  reported  by  the  Committee  on 
Christian  Education,  and  unanimously  adopted,  are 
of  permanent  interest : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Convention  should  press  upon  the 
hearts  and  consciences  of  parents  the  exceeding  importance  of 
the  more  diligent  training  of  their  children  at  home  in  Chris- 
tian truths  and  duties,  as  the  special  task  of  the  parents  them- 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  225 

selves,  of  the  father  aa  well  as  of  the  mother, — a  duty  not  to 
be  delegated  to  any  one  else,  and  to  which  the  parents  should 
devote  a  due  part  of  the  time  and  energies  of  the  Lord's  day 
especially. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Convention  earnestly  counsel  parents 
and  preceptors  to  guard  their  youthful  ^charge  from  the  cor- 
rupting influences  of  much  of  the  common  literature  of  the 
day,  and  to  provide  for  them  wholesome,  instructive,  as  well 
as  attractive  books  and  periodicals,  as  a  most  needful  part  of 
family  Christian  culture. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  duty  is  hereby  solemnly  urged  upon 
those  who  have  worldly  wealth,  to  give  towards  the  endow- 
ment of  the  schools  and  colleges  of  the  Church,  and  the  foun- 
dation of  professorships,  scholarships,  and  prizes,  by  gifts, 
during  life,  and  by  bequests  which  will  strengthen  this  part 
of  the  Church's  work  long  after  the  donor  has  gone  to  his  rest. 

4.  Resolved,  That  it  is  most  clearly  and  imperatively  the 
duty  of  parents  and  guardians  to  their  children  and  wards,  as 
well  as  to  the  Church,  when  they  send  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  Church  from  their  homes,  to  send  them  to  her  own 
schools  and  colleges,  not  to  those  where  her  worship  and 
teaching  are  unknown  ;  and  least  of  all  to  those  in  which 
Romanism  so  stealthily  but  surely  perverts  the  faith  of  bo 
many  of  the  children  of  unreflecting  or  faithless  parents. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  godly  parents  in  the  Church  owe  more 
of  their  sons  to  the  ministry  of  Christ  ;  and  that  they  ought 
by  prayer  and  spiritual  culture  to  form  the  hopes  and  hearts 
of  such  sons  into  the  devotion  to  this  peculiar  and  high  calling, 
which  alone  can  fit  men  for  the  ministry,  and  make  it  a  work 
of  joy  to  their  souls. 

Of  similar  value  are  the  resolutions  reported  by 
the  Committee  on  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society : 

Resolved,  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  House,  there  has 
never  been  a  time  in  tlje  history  of  our  Church  when  the 
demand  for  missionary  effort,  at  home  and  abroad,  was  so 
urgent  and  imperative  as  £ft  the  present  moment  ;  and  that  we 
earnestly  call   upon  our  constituents,  in  every  diocese  of  this 


226        THK  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Cburcli,  to  arouse  themselves  to  realize  the  exigencies  of  the 
hour,  and  to  labor,  and  give,  and  pray  with  a  freer  heart  and 
more  fervent  zeal. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  ecclesiastical  autho- 
rity in  the  sparsely  settled  dioceses  and  missionary  districts 
to  institute  a  system  of  itinerancy,  by  which  most  of  the  small 
communities  within  their  borders  can  be  supplied  with  regular 
visits  and  ministrations  by  clergymen  of  our  Church  ;  and 
that  the  Committee  of  the  Board  for  Domestic  Missions  be 
requested  to  favor,  by  making  the  needful  appropriations,  the 
employment  of  such  a  corps  of  laborers. 

Resolved,  That  further  to  facilitate  the  effort  to  bring  the 
worship  of  our  Church  to  the  knowledge  and  enjoyment  of  all 
people  in  our  land  who  are  now  living  in  neglect  of  their  reli- 
gious duties,  and  especially  of  the  Lord's  day,  it  be  recom- 
mended to  our  parochial  clergy,  with  the  advice  and  sanction 
of  their  Bishops,  to  appoint  and  send  forth  lay  readers  on  the 
outskirts  of  their  cures  to  gather  in  the  wanderers,  and  to  con- 
duct among  them  the  service  of  the  C!hurch,  and  otherwise  to 
instruct  them,  as  they  may  be  licensed,  in  the  duties  of  reli- 
gion. 

Resolved,  That  persons  removing  to  isolated  places,  where 
they  will  be  cut  off  from  the  privileges  of  the  sanctuary, 
should  be  charged  by  the  pastors  from  whose  immediate  care 
they  separate  themselves,  as  they  are  virtually  bound  by  the 
vows  of  baptism  and  by  the  constitution  of  the  family  in  the 
ordinance  of  God,  to  maintain  the  stated  worship  of  the 
Church  in  their  own  dwellings  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  teach 
their  children  diligently  in  the  Catechism  and  Oifices  of  the 
Church. 

Two  subjects  of  inquiry  among  others  brought 
before  the  Convention  claim  record. 

1st.  As  to  the  authority  for  the  i-ubric  inserted 
at  the  end  of  the  Metrical  Hymns,  to  wit :  ^  When- 
ever the  Hymns  are  used  at  the  celebration  of 
Divine  Service^  a  certain  portion  or  portions  of 
the  Psalms  of  David  in  metre  shall  also  he  sang,  it 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  227 

was  ascertained  that  the  said  rubric  was  passed  by 
both  Houses  of  Convention  in  1809,  and  was  made  the 
condition  on  which  the  said  Hymns  were  to  be  used. 
For  proof  thereof,  reference  is  made  to  pages  249, 
253,  255,  and  261  of  the  Journals  as  published  by 
Bioren  in  1817.  The  said  rubric  having  never  been 
either  directly  or  inf  erentially  abrogated,  was,  there- 
fore, pronounced  of  necessary  obligation. 

2d.  As  to  certain  alleged  typographical  errors  in 
the  "  Table  of  Proper  Psalms  for  certain  days,"  the 
Committee  reported  as  follows : 

In  the  first  place,  the  existence  of  certain  discrepancies 
between  the  table  of  Proper  Psalms  on  certain  days,  as  con- 
tained in  the  English  sealed  Books  of  Common  Prayer  and  that 
set  forth  in  the  Standard  Book  of  our  own  Church,  is  apparent. 

That  these  discrepancies  were  intentional  may  be  assumed 
from  the  fact  that  in  various  editions  of  the  American  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  set  forth  by  the  Convention  that  framed  and 
ratified  the  same,  and  accepted  as  the  Standard  Books  of  this 
Church,  the  table,  as  we  have  it  in  our  present  Prayer  Book,  is 
found  with  unvarying  uniformity. 

Further  :  that  in  tlie  various  tables  of  Errata  in  these  Stand- 
ard Books,  prepared  by  the  venerable  Bishop  White,  and 
appended  to  the  Journals  of  successive  Conventions,  and  so 
minute  as  to  embrace  errors  of  punctuation  or  orthography,  no 
mention  is  made  of  any  error  in  the  table  under  present  con- 
sideration. 

Further  :  that,  in  the  preparation  of  the  present  Standard 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  the  Committee  to  whom  was  com- 
mitted its  preparation,  and  whose  labors  were  most  painstaking 
and  exhaustive,  noting,  among  other  things,  every  supposedor 
possible  typographical  error,  ths  correctness  of  the  "  Table," 
as  we  have  it  in  our  present  Prayer  Book,  was  confirmed  and 
attested  as  being  the  "  Table  "  as  this  Church  has  received  the 
same. 

Further  than  this  it  is  not  necessary  for  your  Committee  to 
discuss  the  question  committed  to  them.     They  may,  however. 


228  THE    GENERAl.   CONVENTION 

direct  tlie  attention  of  those  wlio  allege  that  the  change  re- 
ferred to  arose  from  accident  or  a  typographical  blunder  to  the 
recorded  opinions  of  the  venerable  compilers  of  our  Liturgy 
on  this  very  j^oint.  We  append  the  language  of  Bishop 
White  : 

"As  y''  Psalms  are  a  considerable  Part  of  y^  Morning' and 
Evening  Prayer,  it  may  be  proper  to  mention  in  this  Place,  y« 
Reason  of  their  being  so  considerably  shortened.  *  All  Scrip- 
ture is  given  for  Doctrine  and  Instruction  in  Righteousness.' 
Yet  it  is  supposed  that  all  Parts  thereof  were  not  indited  for 
Christian  Worship  ;  and  that  y«  Church  hath  a  Latitude  to 
select  such  parts  as  she  shall  judge  best  suited  thereto.  There- 
fore such  Portions  only  of  y«  Psalms  are  retained,  as  were 
thought  y^  most  beautiful  and  affecting.  In  order  to  add  to 
y«  Propriety  and  Sublimity  of  y«  Psalter,  y"  Translation  in  y" 
Bible  has  been  preferred,  where  it  was  thought  to  have  a 
stronger  Tendency  than  y«  other  to  raise  Devotion.  A  new 
Division  became  necessary  in  Consequence  of  y^  preceding 
changes."  * 

This  language,  together  with  the  further  expression  of  the 
same  venerable  man  desiring  his  colleague  in  the  work  of 
amending  the  English  Prayer  Book  to  give  particular  attention 
to  "the  reading  Psalms"  of  the  greater  Festivals,!  made  in 
connection  with  the  preparation  of  the  "Proposed  Book," 
induces  your  Committee  to  believe  that  it  was  not  without  duo 
deliberation  that  so  marked  and  decided  a  change  was  intro- 
duced into  our  Service  Book.  Though  the  reason  leading  tho 
compilers  of  our  American  Book  of  Common  Prayer  to  allow 
selections  of  Psalms  to  take  the  i)lace  of  those  in  regular  course 
at  the  option  of  the  clergyman,  and  to  change  particular 
' '  Psalms  for  certain  days"  for  others  more  suitable  in  their 
opinion,  may  not  obtain  at  the  present  time,  there  can  not  be 
any  doubt  but  that,  at  that  period  of  our  ecclesiastical  history, 
there  was  a  strong  tendency  to  change,  abbreviate,  or  omit 

*  Hints  toward  a  preface,  in  the  handwriting  of  Bishop 
White,  preserved  among  the  manuscripts  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, and  published  in  the  notes  to  Perry's  reprint  of  the 
old  Journals  of  the  General  Convention,  IIL,  p.  515. 

f  Vide  Bishop  White's  Letter  to  Dr,  William  Smith,  in  Re- 
print of  old  Journals,  III.,  p.  524. 


CF   'illE   AMEKICAX   CHURCH.  229 

portions  of  tlie  Psalter,  from  an  opinion  alluded  to  by  Bishop 
White  in  this  language  quoted  above.  The  action  of  a  portion 
of  the  American  Church  in  setting  forth  the  "  Proposed  Book" 
in  which  these  changes  and  omissions  were  marked  and  radical, 
and  the  previous  or  subsequent  preparation  of  amended  Psalters 
in  various  sections  of  the  American  Church  at  the  period  of  our 
organization,  attests  this  feeling  ;  and  the  mere  mention  of  it 
is  sufl&cient  to  confirm  the  supposition,  were  it  not  supported 
by  more  direct  testimony,  that  the  change  under  discussion  was 
intentional,  and,  as  such,  made  an  integral  part  of  our  American 
Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

One  new  Canon  alone,  "  Of  the  Eequisites  of  a 
Quorum,"  Avas  adopted,  and  several  amended.  The 
number  of  clergy  in  the  reunited  Church  now 
numbered  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  lifty. 


230        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONYENTIOX   OF  1868. 

The  Convention  of  1868  met  in  Trinity  Church, 
New- York,  on  the  7th  of  October,  and  continued 
its  sessions  in  Trinity  Chapel  and  the  Church  of 
the  Transfiguration  until  the  29th  of  the  same 
month.  The  Et.  Eev.  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith, 
D.D.,  presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops. 

One  hundred  and  forty  clerical,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty  lay,  deputies  were  in  attendance.  The 
opening  sermon  was  preached  b.y  the  Bishop  of 
Delaware.  The  Eev.  Dr.  Craik  was  re-elected  Pre- 
sident of  the  House  of  Deputies,  and  the  Eev. 
William  Stevens  Perry,  of  Connecticut,  Secretary. 

The  Diocese  of  Pittsburgh  was  represented  for 
the  first  time,  and  the  Diocese  of  Nebraska  was 
admitted  into  union.  Maryland  w\as  divided  into 
two  dioceses  (East on) ;  New- York  into  three  (Ah 
bany  and  Long  Island) ;  and  Western  New- York 
into  two  (Central  New-York).  The  membership 
of  the  Board  of  Missions  was  increased.  Amend- 
ments to  Art.  5  of  the  Constitution,  providing  for 
the  further  division  of  dioceses,  were  adopted  for 
final  action  at  the  next  session.  The  insertion  of 
an  additional  Cycle  completing  the  present  century, 
and  the  omission  of  the  Cycle  from  1843  to  1861, 
inclusive,  in  the  Calendar  of  the  Prayer  Book,  were 
adopted   for  action   at  the  following   Convention. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  231 

Tlie  suggestion  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese 
of  Georgia  that  measures  should  be  taken  to  secure 
the  ^'  alteration  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church, 
so  that  the  word  '  Convocation '  shall  designate  the 
Diocesan  Convention,  and  the  word  '  Council '  the 
General  Convention,  leaving  the  word  '  Synod '  as 
a  fit  and  proper  name  for  the  Assembly  of  Deputies 
from  a  Province  in  the  Church,  when  such  ec- 
clesiastical bodies  shall  be  established,"  failed  to 
receive  adoption. 

The  Committee  on  the  Prayer  Book,  of  the  House 
of  Deputies,  reported  with  regard  to  an  alleged 
grammatical  inaccuracy  or  typographical  error  in 
that  portion  of  the  Office  for  the  Holy  Communion, 
known  as  the  "  Invocation,"  as  follows  : 

Your  Committee  find  from  Bishop  White's  "  Memoirs  of  th< 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,"  that  thos6 
portions  of  the  Communion  office  known  as  the  "  Oblation' 
and  ''  Invocation,"  were  introduced  at  the  instance  of  Bishop 
Seabury  *  of  Connecticut,  at  the  General  Convention  held  in 
Philadelphia  in  1789  :  That  the  same  portions  had  been  used 
in  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut  previous  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion of  1789  ;  f  that  they  were  derived  from  the  office  of  the 


*  Vide  "Memoirs  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church." 
Second  Edition.     New- York,  1838.     Page  154. 

f  Vide  "  The  Communion  Office,  or  Order  for  the  Adminis- 
tration of  the  Holy  Eucharist  or  Supper  of  the  Lord.  With 
Private  Devotions.'  Recommended  to  the  Episcopal  Congrega- 
tions in  Connecticut.  By  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Seabury. 
New-London:  1786."  In  republishing  this  Edition  of  the 
Scotch  Office,  and  in  recommending  its  use  in  his  Diocese, 
Bishop  Seabury  was  carrying  out  the  terms  of  the  "  Concor- 
dat," entered  into  with  the  Bishops  of  Scotland  at  the  time  of 
his  Consecration.  Vide  Historical  Notes  and  Documents  ap- 
pended  to  Perry's  Reprint  of  the  Journals  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, Vol.  IIL,  p.  237. 


232        THE  GENERAL  CONVEN7'rON 

Scotch  Episcopal  Clmrcli  ;  that  in  the  said  office,*  instead  of 
the  words  "  we,  and  all  others  who  shall  be  partakers,"  etc.» 
the  expression  is  "  Whosoever  shall  be  partakers,"  etc.  ;  and 
that  the  change  to  "  we,  and  all  others  who  shall  be  partakers," 
etc,  was  probably  made  by  Bishop  Seabury. 

Considering,  however,  that  the  phraseology  as  it  now  occurs 
in  the  Prayer  Book  has  been  so  long  in  use  without  occasion- 
ing any  difficulty  affecting  either  devotion  or  doctrine,  and  that 
your  Committee  have  not  discovered  that  the  expression  ob- 
jected to  in  the  resolution  was  occasioned  by  any  typographical 
error,  they  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion,  that  it  would  not 
be  advisable  to  make  any  change  in  the  present  phraseology. 

A  Commission  on  Archives  was  created. 

In  the  Honse  of  Bishops  the  Committee  on  the 
Prayer  Book,  to  whom  was  referred  an  inquiry  in 
regard  to  the  Lessons,  Collect,  Epistles,  and  Gospel, 
proper  to  be  read  on  any  Sunday  which  is  also  a 
holy  day,  recommended  that  on  all  such  occasions 
the  Lessons,  Epistles,  and  Gospel  for  the  Sunday 
shall  be  used,  and  that  the  Collects  for  both  Sunday 
and  holy  day  should  be  read. 

Two  reports  were  made  on  the  question  of  the  Con- 
duct of  Public  Worship,  that  of  the  majority  being 
presented  by  the  Pev.  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Paddock. 

The  Committee  on  Canons  to  whom  were  referred  sundry 
memorials  touching  greater  uniformity  in  the  conduct  of  pub- 
lic worship,  and  in  the  administration  of  the  Rites  and  Sacra- 
ments of  the  Church,  would  respectfully  report  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions,  which  they  recommend  for  ado[)- 
tion  : 

Whereas,  This  Church  seeks  to  keep  the  happy  mean  be« 
tween  too  much  stiffness  in  refusing  and  too  much  easiness  in 

*  Vide  Reliquiae  Liturgicae,  Vol.  II.  (The  Scottish  Prayer 
Book),  p.  150.  And  also  the  various  Communion  Offices  in 
Hall's  Fragraenta  Liturgica,  Vol.  V.  (Non-jurors  and  Scottish 
Offices). 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  233 

admitting  variations  in  things  once  advisedly  established  ;  and 
holds  that  with  regard  to  things  in  their  own  nature  indiffe- 
rent and  alterable,  and  so  acknowledged,  it  is  but  reasonable 
that  upon  weighty  and  important  considerations,  according  to 
the  various  exigencies  of  times  and  occasions,  such  changes 
and  alterations  should  be  made  therein  as  to  those  who  are  in 
places  of  authority  shall  from  time  to  time  seem  either  neces- 
sary or  expedient  ;  lier  aim  being  to  do  that  which,  according 
to  her  best  understanding,  may  most  tend  to  the  preservation 
of  peace  and  unity  in  the  Church,  the  procuring  of  reverence, 
and  the  exciting  of  piety  and  devotion  in  the  worship  of  God  ; 
and  finally,  the  cutting  off  occasion  from  them  that  seek 
occasion,  of  cavil  against  the  Church  and  its  Liturgy  ;  and 

WTiereas,  It  has  been  represented  to  this  House  by  divers 
memorials  numerously  signed  by  presbyters  and  laymen  of 
this  Church,  that  the  introduction,  by  certain  of  her  ministers, 
of  vestments,  ceremonies,  practices,  and  ornaments  of  churches, 
not  heretofore  generally  known  in  the  public  worship  of  this 
Church,  is  marring  her  good  order  and  harmony,  wounding  the 
consciences  of  many  of  her  true  and  loyal  children,  scandaliz- 
ing and  repelling  many  witliout  her  fold,  deferring  hopes  of 
Christian  unity,  and  imperiling  portions  of  the  faith  ;  and 

Whereas,  It  has  also  been  represented  by  memorials,  like- 
wise signed,  that  the  neglect  and  disuse,  by  certain  of  the  min- 
isters, of  vestments,  usages,  and,  in  some  instances,  rubrics, 
well  established  and  generally  observed  in  this  Church,  are 
marring  her  order  and  beauty,  disturbing  her  uniformity, 
and  encouraging  individual  lawlessness  and  self-will  ;  there- 
fore, be  it 

Hesohed,  The  House  of  Bishops  concurring,  that,  with  de- 
vout acknowledgment  of  that  gracious  presence  and  assistance 
of  her  Divine  Master  which  has  been  so  signally  vouchsafed  to 
this  Church  at  many  a  crisis  more  perilous  than  the  present, 
enabling  her,  in  the  midst  of  aggressions  from  without  and  in- 
numerable short-comings  and  extravagances  from  within,  to 
maintain  the  integrity  of  her  doctrine  and  the  beauty,  decency, 
and  dignity  of  her  worship,  this  Convention  attributes  this 
happy  result  in  a  great  measure,  under  God,  to  that  spirit  of 
moderation  which  has  hitherto  guided  the  counsels  of  this 
Church,  and  which  has  rendered  her  averse  to  all  restrictions 


234:  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

of  the  liberty  of  her  children  in  things  indifferent  or  unesseL- 
tial,  so  long  as  unity  can  be  maintained  and  spiritual  edifica- 
tion promoted  in  any  other  way.  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Con- 
vention, therefore,  that  the  enactment  of  any  canon  on  the  sub- 
ject of  ritual  would  be  unwise  and  inexpedient  at  the  present 
time.  But  it  is  none  the  less  the  sense  of  this  Convention  that 
the  continued  maintenance  of  the  decency  and  order  as  well  as 
of  the  peace  and  harmony  which,  by  God's  blessing,  have  al- 
ways characterized  this  Church  ;  the  avoidance  of  the  dangers 
of  irreverence  and  lawlessness  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  extra- 
vagance and  superstition  on  the  other  ;  tlie  preservation  of 
doctrine  from  peril  of  intentional  or  unintentional  change,  and 
a  due  regard  to  the  scriptural  canon  of  walking  wisely  toward 
them  which  are  without,  require  from  all  ministers  of  this 
Church,  celebrating  divine  service  in  churches  or  other  estab- 
lished places  of  public  worship,  a  conscientious  and,  so  far  as 
may  be,  steadfast  adherence  to  such  vestments,  ceremonies, 
practices,  and  ornaments,  as,  by  reason  of  long-continued  use 
or  by  authority,  are  recognized  as  properly  belonging  to  this 
Church,  avoiding  errors  either  by  excess  or  by  defect.  And, 
further,  that  in  all  matters  doubtful,  for  the  avoidance  of  un- 
seemly disputes  and  contradictory  practices,  which  tend  neither 
to  good  name  nor  to  godliness,  reference  should  be  made  to 
the  Ordinary,  and  no  changes  should  be  made  against  the  godly 
counsel  and  judgment  of  the  Bishop. 

A  portion  of  the  committee,  the  Rev.  Dr.  (now 
Bishop)  M.  A.  De  Wolfe  Howe  and  Mr.  John  N. 
Conyngham,  LL.D.,  presented  a  minority  report 
with  the  following  resolutions  : 

Whereas,  It  has  heretofore  been  ne  of  the  peculiar  charac- 
teristics and  attractions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
that  its  worship  and  the  mode  of  conducting  it  have  been  in  all 
places  substantially  alike  ;  "so  that  every  child  of  the  Church 
in  any  one  of  her  sanctuaries,  found  a  familiar  spiritual  home  • 
and 

WTierecis,  It  has  been  especially  distinctive  of  this  Church, 
that  while  it  has  avoided  the  baldness  of  most  of  the  modes  of 
Protestant  worship,  it  has  still  more  decidedly  put  away  the 


OF   THE   AMEltlCAN   CHURCH.  235 

many-colored  vestments,  excessive  ceremonial,  and  false  sym- 
bolism of  a  foreign  Ciiurch  with  which  it  is  not  in  communion  ; 
therefore 

1.  Eesolved,  As  the  sense  of  this  Convention — the  House  of 
Bishops  concurring — that  the  maintenance  of  our  wonted  uni- 
formity and  simplicity  in  worship  is  exceedingly  desirable,  to 
secure  this  Church  from  the  insidious  introduction  of  unsound 
doctrine,  from  the  disturbance  of  the  peace  and  comfort  of  its 
worshippers,  and  from  exposure  to  evil  report  among  them 
who  are  without. 

2,  Resolved,  That  while  there  is  no  absolute  directory  in  the 
Canons  or  Rubrics  of  the  Church,  specifying  all  official  vest- 
ments and  jiractices,  and  all  ecclesiastical  ornaments  which 
may  be  fitly  used  therein,  yet  there  is  the  indication  of  great 
simplicity  ;  and  the  traditional  usages  of  the  Church  in  this 
behalf,  from  the  date  of  its  organization  here  to  the  present 
period,  is  in  conformity  therewith,  and  has,  in  the  hearts  and 
minds  of  the  great  body  of  its  loyal  members,  the  force 
of  law. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  affectionately  urges  upon 
all  who  have  to  do  with  the  ordering  of  the  appointments  of 
public  worship,  that  they  abide  by  the  traditions  and  ceremo- 
nies of  this  American  Church  ;  that  none  other  than  the  "  cle- 
rical habits"  known  to  our  fathers,  and  referred  to  by  the 
House  of  Bishops  at  the  General  Convention  of  1814,  as  appro- 
priate to  ministers  officiating  in  the  congregation,  "  bands, 
gowns,  and  surplices,"  with  their  customary  appendages,  cas- 
socks, and  black  stoles,  be  provided,  and  that  no  strange  orna- 
ments of  the  sacred  places,  conducive  to  vain  show  or  supersti- 
tion, be  introduced. 

4,  Resolved,  That,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Convention — the 
House  of  Bishops  concurring — the  burning  of  lights  in  the 
Order  for  the  Holy  Communion,  the  burning  of  incense,  reve- 
rences to  the  holy  table,  or  to  the  elements  thereon,  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  elements,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  (except 
when  prescribed  in  the  Rubric)  in  and  during  divine  service  or 
the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  are  innovations  on  our 
mode  of  conducting  public  worship,  offend  against  the  common 
order  of  the  Cliurch,  and  wound  the  consciences  of  many  of  its 
true  and  loving  members. 


236        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

5.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  earnestly  expresses  its 
disapproval  of  the  omission  of  any  of  those  proprieties  of  ap- 
parel and  demeanor,  when  ministering  in  the  congregation, 
which  either  rule  or  general  usage  has  made  distinctive  of  our 
worship,  and  commends  all  who,  being  in  holy  orders,  would 
deviate  on  the  right  hand  or  on  the  left,  from  the  common 
order  of  the  Church's  worship,  to  seek  first  the  counsel  of  their 
Bishops,  and  submit  themselves  to  their  godly  judgments. 

The  consideration  of  the  whole  subject  being  made 
the  order  of  the  day,  it  was  moved  to  amend  the 
resolution  reported  by  the  Committee,  by  striking 
out  all  after  the  word  "  Resolved,"  and  inserting:  in- 
stead  that  portion  of  the  resolutions  accompanying 
the  minority  report,  numbered  respectively,  2,  3,  4, 
and  5.  The  Eev.  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Littlejolm 
moved  as  an  amendment  to  the  proposed  amend- 
ment the  following : 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  be  requested  to  set  forth 
for  consideration  and  adoption  by  the  next  General  Convention 
such  additional  Bubrics  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  as,  in 
their  judgment,  may  be  deemed  necessary. 

Resolved,  That  meanwhile,  in  all  matters  doubtful,  reference 
should  be  made  to  the  Ordinary,  and  no  changes  should  be 
made  against  the  godly  counsel  and  judgment  of  the  Bishop. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  the  reports  of  the  majority  and  mi- 
nority of  the  Committee  on  Canons  be  transmitted  to  the  House 
of  Bishops. 

A  substitute  was  offered  for  the  several  amend- 
ments before  the  House,  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Clerical  and  I^ay  Deputies  con- 
sider the  Liturgy,  Offices,  and  Articles  of  the  Church  suffi- 
cient exponents  of  her  sense  of  the  essential  doctrines  of  Holy 
Scripture  ;  and  that  the  Canons  of  the  Church  afford  ample 
means  of  discipline  and  correction  for  all  who  depart  from  her 
standard. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  237 

Resolved,  further,  That  the  General  Conventioa  is  not  a  suit- 
able tribunal  for  the  trial  and  censure  of,  and  that  the 
Church  is  not  responsible  for,  the  errors  of  individuals,  whether 
they  are  members  of  this  Church  or  otherwise. 

This  being  defeated  by  a  vote  of  21  nays  to  11 
ayes  and  2  divided  of  the  clergy,  and  20  nays  to  7 
ayes  and  3  divided  of  the  laity,  the  amendment  of- 
fered by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Littlejohn  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  21  ayes  to  10  nays  and  4  divided  of  the  clergy, 
and  18  ayes  to  8  nays  and  4  divided  of  the  laity. 

This  result  having  been  communicated  to  the 
House  of  Bishops,  on  motion  of  the  Bishop  of 
Maryland,  it  was 

Resolved,  Unanimously,  That  the  House  of  Bishops  affec- 
tionately informs  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  that 
in  the  full  trust  that  the  spirit  of  the  second  of  the  three 
resolutions  communicated  by  that  House  in  its  Message  No. 
78,  will  be  carried  out  in  the  action  of  the  clergy  and  laity 
of  the  several  dioceses  and  missionary  jurisdictions  of  this 
Church,  this  House  deems  it  unadvisable  to  enter  upon  any 
alteration  of  the  rubrics  of  our  Book  of  Common  Prayer  by 
the  insertion  of  additional  matter ;  but  that  it  will  appoint  a 
Committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  consider  whether  any 
additional  provision  for  uniformity,  by  canon  or  otherwise,  is 
practicable  and  expedient,  and  to  report  to  the  next  General 
Convention. 

The  Presiding  Bishop  appointed  as  the  Commit- 
tee to  consider  whether  any  additional  provision 
for  uniformity  in  matters  of  Ritual,  by  canon  or 
otherwise,  is  practicable  and  expedient,  and  to 
report  to  the  next  General  Convention,  the  Bishop 
of  Delaware,  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  the  Bishop 
of  New-Jersey,  the  Bishop  of  Ehode  Island,  the 
Bishop  of  Pittsburgh. 


238  THE    GENEliAL   COiS^VENTION' 

In  reply  to  one  of  the  several  "  memorials " 
presented  to  this  Convention,  asking  for  greater 
latitude  in  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
a  Committee  of  the  Bishops,  consisting  of  the 
Bishops  of  Delaware,  Virginia,  and  Western  New- 
York,  reported  as  follows : 

Tliat  while  disposed  to  treat  with  respectful  and  tender 
consideration  the  conecientious  diflBculties  of  brethren  on 
whose  behalf  this  memorial  has  been  presented  to  the  General 
Convention,  and  without  expressing  an  opinion  adverse  to  the 
expediency  of  a  wise  and  careful  examination  of  gome  of  the 
offices  of  the  Prayer  Book,  with  the  view  of  removing  all 
cause  of  complaint  or  objection,  they  can  not  recommend  a 
favorable  answer  to  the  present  petition.  The  memorial, 
without  naming  any  specific  grievance  to  be  remedied,  asks 
for  a  latitude  in  the  use  of  the  Liturgy  which  seems  incom- 
patible with  that  uniformity  in  the  services  of  this  Church 
which  has  been  considered  an  eminent  advantage  and  excel- 
lence— and  such  license,  moreover,  if  granted,  would  expose 
the  convictions  and  rights  of  a  congregation  to  be  sacrificed  to 
the  scruples  or  peculiar  views  of  the  minister.  The  Commit- 
tee recommend,  therefore,  the  following  resolution  : 

Besohed,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  House,  such  latitude 
in  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  as  the  memorialists 
ask,  could  not  be  allowed  with  safety,  or  with  proper  regard 
to  the  rights  of  our  congregations. 

On  motion  of  the  Bishop  of  Massachusetts,  this 
resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 

In  the  same  House,  the  following  resolutions, 
accompanying  the  report  on  Christian  education, 
were  unanimously  adopted,  and  were  communicated 
to  the  House  of  Deputies : 

Besohed,  That  the  Bishops  do  call  on  the  educated  members 
of  this  (hurch,  the  men  and  women  competent  and  free  to 
train  our  sons  and  our  daughters  in  the  faith  and  the  piety  of 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHUKCH.  239 

the  Gospel  as  exhibited  in  our  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and 
to  educate  them  in  secular  learning  and  attainment,  to  consider 
the  question  of  their  privilege  and  duty  thus  to  work  for 
Christ  and  his  CTiurch  under  the  care  and  guidance  of  their 
Bishops,  and  in  such  associations  and  under  such  rules  as 
shall  receive  the  Episcopal  sanction  in  each  Diocese.  To  such 
associations,  and  to  such  work,  the  Bishops  give  their  hearty 
encouragement,  and  their  fervent  blessing. 

Resolved,  That  the  Bishops  call  upon  the  people  committed 
to  their  charge,  to  give  promptly  and  freely  of  their  worldly 
wealth,  to  plant  and  nourish  such  schools  of  the  Church. 

Tlie  following  action  was  taken,  at  the  instance 
of  the  Missionary  Committee  of  the  Lower  Honse : 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  ecclesiastical 
authorities  in  the  thinly-settled  dioceses  and  missionary  dis- 
tricts to  have  regard  for  the  following  agencies: 

1st.  To  provide  a  system  of  itinerancy  by  which  the  services 
of  the  Church  may  be  carried  to  small  communities  and  isolat- 
ed households. 

2d.  To  give  larger  scope  and  more  efficiency  to  the  voluntas 
ry  service  of  pious  laymen  who  may  be  willing  to  give  a  stated 
portion  of  their  time  to  missionary  duty. 

3d.  To  encourage  and  exhort  families  settled  in  remote 
places  and  deprived  of  the  privileges  of  the  Sanctuary  to 
maintain  the  stated  worship  of  the  Church  in  their  own 
dwellings  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  teach  their  children  dili- 
gently in  the  Catechism  and  offices  of  the  Church. 

It  was  also  resolved,  in  accordance  with  the 
recommendation  of  a  lay  committee. 

That  it  is  a  solemn  and  urgent  duty  of  each  and  all  of  i1k> 
lay  members  of  the  Church  to  make  systematic  and  constant 
efforts  for  the  better  maintenance  of  the  clergy  and  of  their 
families. 

Action  respecting  the  subject  of  "  Ilymnody  *' 
took  the  following  form : 


240        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION" 

Resolved,  That  tlie  additional  Hymns,  licensed  for  use  by  tlie 
last  General  Convention,  be  adopted  and  allowed  to  be  bound 
up  with  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 

Hesolved,  That  the  Bishops  of  this  Church  are  allowed  to 
license  the  use  in  their  respective  Dioceses,  until  the  next 
meeting  of  the  General  Convention,  of  the  collection  known 
by  the  title,  "  Hymns  for  Church  and  Home  ;"  and  the  collec- 
tion known  as  "  Hymns  Ancient  and  Modern;"  with  the  excep- 
tion, in  the  latter  collection,  of  Hymns  numbered  26,  31,  115, 
1G4,  203,  206,  209,  212,  242,  249  :  these  Hymns  being  deemed 
objectionable. 

A  new  missionary  jurisdiction,  with  the  follow- 
ing boundaries :  on  the  east  by  the  Missouri  river, 
on  the  south  by  the  State  of  Nebraska,  on  the  west 
by  104  meridian,  the  Territory  of  Wyoming,  and 
IS'ebraska,  on  the  north  by  46  degrees  north  latitude, 
was  established,  and  temporarily  placed  under  the 
charge  of  the  Missionary  Bishop  of  Nebraska. 
The  two  Houses  sent,  by  ocean-telegraph,  the  ex- 
pression of  "  their  affectionate  condolence  to  the 
Church  of  England  on  the  death  of  its  venerable 
Primate,"  which  occurred  during  the  session. 
The  name  of  the  Freedmen's  Commission  was 
changed  to  "  The  Home  Missionary  Commission 
for  Colored  People." 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  the  Bishops,  on  motion  of  the  Bishop 
of  Illinois : 

Wliereas,  In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1867,  his  Grace,  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  did  invite  "  the  Bishops  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  visible  communion  with  the  United 
Church  of  England  and  Ireland,"  to  meet  for  brotherly  con- 
ference in  the  Palace  at  Lambeth  in  September  of  that  year; 
and 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHUKCH.  241 

Whereas,  Pursuant  to  sucli  invitation,  a  majority  of  the 
Bishops  of  the  Anglican  Communion  did  thus  assemble  for 
fraternal  council  and  spiritual  communion  ;  and 

Whereas,  The  results  reached  by  their  deliberations  were  of 
such  importance,  and  were  attained  with  so  much  unanimity, 
as  to  entitle  them  to  great  moral  weight  with  all  Churches  of 
the  Anglican  Communion,  therefore. 

Resolved,  The  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concur- 
ring, that  this  Church,  now  represented  in  General  Convention, 
does  adopt  the  following  resolutions : 

I.  Resolved,  That  this  Churclx  records,  with  gratitude  to 
Almighty  God,  the  satisfaction  and  thankfulness  with  which 
it  regards  the  solemn  Assembly  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Anglican 
Communion  in  the  Lambeth  Conference,  by  which  the  bonds 
have  been  strengthened  "  of  Christian  communion  between 
Churches,  acknowledging  one  Lord,  one  Faith,  one  Baptism, 
and  connected  by  Common  Formularies,"  and  we  do  cordially 
unite  in  the  language  and  spirit  of  the  "Introduction"  by 
which  the  deliberations  of  that  body  were  prefaced  : 

We,  Bishops  of  Christ's  Holy  Catholic  Church,  in  visible 
communion  with  the  United  Church  of  England  and  Ire- 
land, professing  the  Faith  delivered  to  us  in  Holy  Scripture, 
maintained  by  the  Primitive  Church,  and  by  the  Fathers  of 
the  English  Refomiation,  now  assembled,  by  the  good  Provi- 
dence of  God,  at  the  Archiepiscopal  Palace  of  Lambeth,  under 
the  Presidency  of  the  Primate  of  all  England,  desire  First,  to 
give  hearty  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  having  thus  brought 
us  together  for  common  counsels  and  united  worship ;  Secondly, 
we  desire  to  express  the  deep  sorrow  with  which  we  view  the 
divided  condition  of  the  flock  of  Christ  throughout  the  world, 
ardently  longing  for  the  fulfilment  of  the  Prayer  of  our  Lord 
"  That  all  may  be  One,  as  Thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in 
Thee,  that  they  also  may  be  One  in  us,  that  the  world  may  be- 
lieve that  Thou  hast  sent  me;"  and  Lastly,  we  do  here  solemnly 
record  our  conviction  that  unity  will  be  most  effectually  pro- 
moted by  maintaining  the  Faith  in  its  purity  and  integrity,  as 
taught  in  the  Ploly  Scriptures,  held  by  the  Primitive  Church, 
summed  up  in  the  Creeds,  and  affirmed  by  the  undisputed 
General  Councils  ;  and  by  drawing  each  of  us  closer  to  our 
common  Lord,  by  giving^  ourselves  to  much  prayer  and  inter- 


242        THE  GENERAL  COXVKNTION 

cession,  "by  tlie  cultivation  of  a  spirit  of  charity,  and  a  love  of 
the  Lord's  appearing-. 

II.  Resolved,  That  this  Church  receives  the  Encyclical  Let- 
ter, an  "  Address  to  the  Faithful  in  Christ  Jesus,  the  Priests, 
and  Deacons,  and  the  Lay  Members  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
in  communion  with  the  Anglican  Branch  of  the  Church,"  and 
orders  the  same  to  be  placed  among  the  Archives  in  charge 
of  the  Registrar. 

III.  Resolved,  That  we  acknowledge  with  thankfulness  the 
act  of  tlie  venerable  Primate  (of  whose  lamented  decease  this 
House  has  been  to-day  informed),  in  convening  the  meeting  of 
the  Chief  Pastors  of  the  Anglican  Communion  ;  and  vre  unite 
in  his  own  words  of  supiDlication:  "  That  our  Almighty  Father 
shed  abroad  upon  us  the  spirit  of  wisdom,  peace  and  love,  so 
that  being  knit  together  more  closely  in  the  bonds  of  brother- 
ly affection  and  Christian  communion,  and  animated  with 
more  fervent  zeal  for  the  Saviour's  honor  and  the  salvation  of 
souls,  we  may  do  our  endeavor  to  prepare  His  Church  for  the 
coming  of  Him  whom  we  lovingly  adore,  and  whose  advent  in 
power  and  glory  we  ardently  look  to  and  long  for. 

IV.  Resolved,  That  this  Church  accepts  the  full  spiritual 
validity  of  the  deposition  and  excommunication  of  Dr.  Colenso, 
pronounced  by  the  Metropolitan  and  Bishops  of  the  South- 
African  Church  ;  and  we  will  regard  him  as  deposed  and  ex- 
communicate, accordingly,  until  he  shall  so  turn  from  his 
errors,  and  be  restored  to  full  communion  by  the  Church  of 
South-Africa,  which  God  of  his  infinite  mercy  grant. 

V.  Resolved,  That  this  Church  recognizes  with  satisfaction 
as  indispensable  for  the  discipline  of  the  Church,  the  provision 
of  letters  dimissory  reciprocal  between  its  several  branches, 
and  the  full  change  of  jurisdiction  understood  to  be  secured  by 
such  transfer. 

VI.  Resolved,  That  this  Church  also  expresses  its  cordial 
approval  of  the  provision  that  emigrant  members  of  the 
Church,  of  good  Christian  standing,  should  be  furnished  with 
testimonials  addressed  to  the  Bishops  and  Pastors  of  the 
Church  in  the  country  to  which  they  may  remove. 

Canons  authorizing  the  formation  of  a  Federate 
Council ;    respecting  the  Consecration  of  Churches ; 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHUKCH.  243 

and  on  the  subject  of  Divorce,  were  adopted.     The 
latter  enactment  is  as  follows : 

No  minister  of  this  Church  shall  solemnize  matrimony  in 
any  case  where  there  is  a  divorced  wife  or  husband  of  either 
party  still  living;  but  this  Canon  shall  not  be  held  to  apply  to 
the  innocent  party  in  a  divorce  for  the  cause  of  adultery,  or  to 
parties  once  divorced  seeking  to  be  united  again. 

The  Bishop  of  Missouri  was  consecrated  at  this 
session,  and  Missionary  Bishops  were  elected  for 
Oregon  and  Nevada. 

On  the  whole,  in  reviewing  the  proceedings  of  the 
Convention,  it  may  be  said  that  though  the  actual 
legislation  effected  at  its  session  was  not  so  much, 
still  its  avoidance  of  direct  legislative  enactments 
on  mooted  points  may  yet  prove  to  have  been  the 
truest  wisdom.  Its  action  with  respect  to  unscrip- 
tural  divorce  has  won  for  it  a  general  praise.  The 
numerous  memorials  presented  to  it  received  a 
patient  consideration,  though  the  action  resulting 
from  them  was  but  trifling  in  its  nature  or  extent. 
Its  debates,  of  which  we  have  a  verbatim  record, 
were  characterized  by  dignity  and  were  marked 
with  many  brilliant  passages.  As  an  evidence  of 
the  substantial  unity  of  the  Church,  the  general 
unanimity  of  feeling  among  its  members  was  a  most 
gratifying  feature  of  the  session.  The  number  of 
clergy  had  reached  two  thousand  six  hundred  and 
sixty-two. 


244        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   CONVENTION   OF   1871. 

Although  the  importance  of  this  Convention  could 
hardly  be  overestimated,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  much  of  its  legislation  received  further  con- 
sideration in  1874,  it  will  be  wise  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  these  questions  are  still  subjects  of  discus- 
sion for  us  to  confine  our  Tesiime  to  abstracts  or 
notices  of  the  completed  action  of  the  two  Houses, 
avoiding  criticism  or  comment. 

The  Convention  met  in  Emmanuel  Church, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  on  the  4th  of  October,  con- 
tinuing its  sessions  until  the  26th  of  the  same 
month.  The  House  of  Bishops  sat  one  day  longer 
than  the  lower  House.  The  sermon  at  the  opening 
service  was  preached  by  the  Bishop  of  Virginia. 
The  presence  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lichiield,  Eng- 
land, Dr.  Selwyn  ;  the  Bishop  of  Nassau,  Dr.  Vena- 
bles ;  and  the  Dean  of  Chester,  Dr.  Howson,  with 
other  clergy  of  the  English  and  Colonial  Churches, 
added  interest  to  a  session  distinguished  from  the 
outset  by  a  spirit  of  forbearance,  peace,  and  mutual 
good-will.  The  Kt.  Kev.  Dr.  Benj.  Bosworth 
Smith  presided  in  the  House  of  Bishops.  In  the 
Lower  House  forty  dioceses  were  represented,  and 
one  (Central  Pennsylvania)  created.  One  hundred 
and  sixty-two  clerical,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  lay  deputies  were  in  attendance.  The  officers 
of  the  last  House  of  Deputies  were  re-elected.   The 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHl'ItClf.  245 

Eev.  Dr.  W.  B.  "W.  Howe  was  consecrated  to  the 
Assistant  Bishopric  of  South- Carolina,  the  Bishop 
of  Lichfield  preaching  the  sermon,  and  the  sightless 
Bishop  of  Sonth-Carolina  guiding  his  hand  "  wit- 
tingly," in  the  act  of  laying  on  of  hands,  upon  the 
head  of  his  assistant  and  brother.  Early  in  the 
session  (on  the  fourth  day)  the  following  report  on 
ritual,  accompanied  by  two  resolutions,  was  trans- 
mitted by  the  Bishops  to  the  lower  House,  and 
gave  occasion  for  the  most  important  discussion  of 
the   ession : 


The  Committee  of  Five  Bishops  appointed  by  tlie  House  of 
Bishops,  at  the  General  Convention  of  1868,  "  To  consider 
whether  any  additional  provision  for  uniformity,  by  canon  or 
otherwise,  is  practicable  and  expedient,  and  to  report  to  the 
next  General  Convention,"  having  held  sundry  meetings  at 
several  different  places,  at  each  of  which  all  the  members  of 
the  Committee  were  present  through  the  entire  session  ;  and 
having,  as  they  believed,  given  to  the  subject-matter  intrusted 
to  them  that  careful  consideration  which  its  importance  merits, 
respectfully  ask  leave  to  report  : 

The  resolution  under  which  the  Committee  was  appointed 
raises  several  questions  for  examination  and  answer.  Is  any 
legislation  touching  the  performance  of  Divine  Service  and 
"  the  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  and  other  Rites  and 
Ceremonies  of  the  Church"  practicable  ?  If  practicable,  is  it, 
at  this  time  expedient  ?  If  practicable  and  expedient,  shall  it 
take  the  shape  of  a  canon  or  canons  ;  or  shall  it  be  otherwise 
provided  for?  And,  finally,  what  fIieII  the  actual  details  of 
legislation  be?  Assuredly,  these  are  questions  that  touch  the 
Church,  and  its  ministers  and  members,  in  many  and  very 
vital  points,  and  involve  many  delicate  as  well  as  precious 
relations. 

In  considering  these  questions,  the  Committee  have  endea- 
vored never  to  forget  that  substantial  uniformity  is  entirely 
compatible  with  very  considerable  individual   liberty  ;    that 


246        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

non-essentials  should  never  be  unduly  magnified,  and,  far  less, 
raised  to  an  equality  with  essentials  ;  that  many  troublesome 
and  objectionable  things  are  ephemeral  in  their  nature,  and 
"  perish  in  the  using  ;"  and  that,  under  any  circumstances, 
hasty  legislation  is  ever  to  be  avoided.  Nor  have  they  omitted 
to  keep  in  mind  the  wise  words  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Article  of 
Religion  : 

"  It  is  not  necessary  that  traditions  and  ceremonies  be  in  all 
places  one,  or  utterly  alike  ;  for  at  all  times  they  have  been 
divers,  and  may  be  changed  according  to  the  diversity  of  coun- 
tries, times,  and  men's  manners,  so  that  nothing  be  ordained 
against  God's  Word.   ,   .  . 

"  Every  particular  or  national  Church  hath  authority  to  or- 
dain, change,  and  abolish,  ceremonies  or  rites  of  the  Church 
ordained  only  by  man's  authority,  so  that  all  things  be  done  to 
edifying." 

While,  however,  the  Committee  have  kept  these  considera- 
tions in  view,  it  has  been  and  is  their  unanimous  conviction 
that  some  action  of  the  General  Convention,  in  regard  to  the 
important  matters  named  in  the  resolution  appointing  them,  is 
very  desirable,  if  not,  indeed,  absolutely  demanded.  Among 
many  reasons  for  this  conviction  that  present  themselves,  they 
venture  to  ask  attention  to  the  three  following  : 

First.  It  is  obvious  to  remark  that  there  are  among  us  great 
and  growing  "diversities  of  use  "  in  the  performance  of  Divine 
Service  and  the  offices  of  the  Church.  Unless  something  is 
done,  and  done  soon,  in  the  interests  of  uniformity,  these  diver- 
sities bid  fair  to  equal,  if  they  do  not  exceed,  those  which,  at 
the  period  of  the  Anglican  Reformation,  were  regarded  as  an 
evil  to  be  removed  ;  and  which  led  to  the  decision  that  "the 
whole  realm"  should  have  "but  one  use."  They  occasion, 
moreover,  even  now,  confusion,  trouble,  and  perplexity  among 
our  people  ;  and  these  evils  must  increase  as  their  causes  are 
multiplied. 

Secondly.  It  is  believed  that  various  services  over  and 
above  those  provided  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  set 
forth  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Title  I.,  Canon  13. 
§  XIV.  of  the  Digest,  and  not  coming  under  the  denomination 
of  Sunday  or  other  school  services,  are  publicly  used  in  certain 
churches.     How  far  liberty  in  this  re2:ar(l  is  to  be  allowed,  or 


OF   THE    A3rlEHICAN    CIIUEOH.  247 

in  what  respects  it  is  to  be  restrainc  d,  the  Committee  do  not 
undertake  to  say.  It  is  obvious,  however,  that  any  such  ser- 
vices are  sources  of  disorder  and  confusion,  in  proportion  as 
they  are  framed  on  principles  and  embody  acts,  words,  or 
forms — come  these  from  what  outside  quarter  they  may — that 
are  not  in  accord  with  the  "  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship" 
of  our  own  Church,  or  are  foreign  to  the  genius  and  spirit  of 
our  services. 

Thirdly.  The  Committee  have  -reason  to  believe  that,  in 
some  instances,  the  services  of  the  Prayer  Book  are  unlawfully 
altered  or  mutilated,  and,  in  others,  are  so  performed  as  to 
make  it  difficulr,  to  say  the  least,  to  distinguish  them,  except 
in  the  language  employed,  from  those  of  the  Church  of  Home. 
Against  such  wrongs  our  people  have  a  right  to  demand  pro- 
tection ;  and  whether  they  demand  it  or  not,  it  would  seem  to 
be  a  plain  and  bounden  duty  to  provide  for  it. 

For  these  reasons,  besides  others  which  it  is  not  necessary  to 
rehearse,  the  Committee  unanimously  recommend  action  by 
the  present  General  Convention  ;  and  after  maturely  weighing 
the  different  modes  in  which  this  recommendation  may  ije  car- 
ried out,  they  further  unanimously  recommend  that  any  action 
which  the  Convention  may  take  shall  be  in  the  form  of  a 
canon  or  canons. 

In  proceeding  to  state  the  various  details  which  they  believe 
ought  to  be  made  the  subjects  of  such  action  as  has  oeen  pro- 
posed, -the  Committee  desire  to  say  that,  while  on  the  great 
majority  of  the  points  presented  there  has  been  entire  unani- 
mity of  opinion,  some  things  are,  nevertheless,  proposed,  and 
others  are  omitted,  which,  had  each  member's  inaividual  wish 
regulated  the  final  result,  would  have  been  differently  dispos- 
ed of.  They  have  strongly  felt  that  uniformity  necessarily 
involves  the  giving  up  of  some  things,  and  the  acceptance  of 
other  things  which  individuals  may  desire,  on  the  one  hand, 
to  retain,  or,  on  the  other,  to  remove. 

The  Committee  report  the  following  as  the  matters  upon 
Tvhich  they  respectfully  recommend  legislation  : 

I. 

They  recommend  that  certain  acts  in  the  administration  of 
the  Holy  Communion,  and  on  other  occasions  of  public  wor- 


218  THE    GE^'EKAL    COKVENTIOX 

ship,  hereinafter  enumerated,  be  prohibited  by  canon,  to 
wit : 

(1.)  The  use  of  incense. 

(2.)  Placing  or  retaining  a  crucifix  in  any  part  of  the  church. 

(3.)  Carrying  a  cross  in  procession  in  the  church. 

(4.)  The  use  of  lights  on  or  about  the  holy  table,  except 
when  necessary. 

(5.)  The  elevation  of  the  elements  in  the  Holy  Communion 
in  such  manner  as  to  expose  them  to  the  view  of  the  people 
as  objects  toward  which  adoration  is  to  be  made,  in  or  after 
the  prayer  of  consecration,  or  in  the  act  of  administering 
them,  or  in  conveying  them  to  or  from  the  communicants. 

(6.)  The  mixing  of  water  with  the  wine  as  part  of  the  ser- 
vice, or  in  presence  of  the  congregation. 

(7.)  The  washing  of  the  priest's  hands,  or  the  ablution  of 
the  vessels,  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation. 

(8.)  Bowings,  crossings,  genuflections,  prostrations,  reveren- 
ces, bowing  down  upon  or  kissing  the  holy  table,  and  kneel- 
ing, except  as  allowed,  provided  for,  or  directed,  by  rubric 
or  canon  ;  it  being  provided  that  reverence  at  the  mention 
of  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  is  not  intended  to  be  disal- 
lowed ;  and  it  being  further  provided  that  private  personal 
devotion,  before  or  after  official  ministration,  is  not  to  be 
understood  to  include  or  justify  any  of  the  acts  prohibited. 

(9.)  The  c^ebration  or  receiving  of  the  Holy  Communion  by 
any  Bishop  or  priest  when  no  person  receives  with  him. 

(10.)  Employing  or  permitting  any  person  or  persons  not  in 
Holy  Orders  to  assist  the  minister  in  any  part  of  the  order 
for  the  administration  of  the  Holy  Communion. 

(11.)  Using,  at  any  administration  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
any  prayers,  collects,  gospels,  or  epistles,  other  than  those 
provided  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  under  §  XIV. 
of  Canon  13  of  Title  I.  of  the  Digest. 

They  further  recommend  here  : 

(1.)  That  no  Rector  of  a  Parish  or  other  minister  shall  be 
allowed  to  introduce  the  Choral  Service  without  the  consent- 
ing vote  of  the  Vestry,  or  contrary  to  the  prohibition  of  the 
Bishop. 

(2.)  That  no  surpliced  choir  shall  be  employed  except  under 
the  same    limitations  ;    and  when  such  choirs  are  employed, 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  249 

the  only  addition  to  their  ordinary  attire  shall  be  a  surplice 
reaching  to  the  ankles. 

(3.)  That  no  chancel  shall  be  allowed  to  be  so  arranged  as  to 
prevent  the  minister  from  officiating  at  the  right  end  of  the 
r.oly  table.     It  is  to  be  noted  that  a  credence -table  is  lawful. 

II. 

The  Committee  further  recommend  that  canonical  provision 
he  made  touching  the  dress  appropriate  to  clergymen  minis- 
tering in  the  congregation  ;  and  that  the  only  vestments  de- 
•jlared  to  be  appropriate  to  clergymen  so  ministering  be  : 

(1.)  For  bishops,  the  present  episcopal  robes. 

(2.)  For  all  ministers,  a  white  surplice  ;  a  black  or  white 
fitole  ;  a  black  cassock  not  reaching  below  the  ankles  ;  a 
black  gown  ;  and  bands. 

They  also  recommend  that  provision  be  made  : 

(1.)  Tliat  on  occasions  of  services,  where  expediency  or  ne- 
cessity of  health  may  require  it,  the  university  cap  may  be 
used. 

(2.)  That  candidates  for  orders,  who  are  licensed  to  act  as 
lay  readers,  may  use  the  academical  black  gown. 

III. 

In  addition  to  the  canonical  provisions  now  recommended, 
and  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that  "nothing  can  be  so  plain- 
ly set  forth  but  doubts  may  arise  in  the  use  and  practice  of  the 
same,"  the  Committee  further  unanimously  recommend  that 
some  action  be  taken  to  carry  out,  in  such  manner  as  may  se- 
cure its  observance,  the  principle  declared  in  the  second  reso- 
lution sent  to  this  House  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies,  at  the  General  Convention  of  1868,  to  wit  :  That, 
"in  all  matters  doubtful,  reference  shall  be  made  to  the  Ordi- 
nary, and  no  changes  shall  be  made  against  the  godly  counsel 
and  judgment  of  the  Bishop." 

In  conclusion,  the  Committee  recommend  the  adoption  of 
the  following  resolutions  : 

Resolved,  That  this  report  be  communitated  to  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 

Resolved,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concur- 
ring, That  a  Joint  Committee,  consisting  of  three  Bishops,  three 


250  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Presbyters,  and  three  Laymen,   be  appointed,  to  whom  the 
Bubject-matter  of  this  Report  shall  be  referred,  with  directions 
to  report  to  this  Convention,  at  as  early  a  day  as  practicable, 
such  canons  as  they  may  deem  necessary  in  the  premises. 
All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Alfred  Lee, 

J.   Williams, 

T.   M.  Clark, 

W,   H.   Odenheimer, 

J.  B.  Kerfoot. 

Resolved,  Tliat  in  the  gravity  of  the  subject  and  its  bear- 
ings, this  House  is  unprepared  for  immediate  action  on  the 
Report  submitted  by  its  Committee  on  Ritual  Uniformity, 
without  previous  consideration  of  the  same  in  joint  Committee 
of  the  two  Houses  of  Convention, 

Resolved,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concurring, 
That  a  joint  Committee  be  appointed  for  the  consideration  of 
the  above-named  Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Bishops  concerning  Ritual,  and  to  report  if  any,  and,  if  any, 
what,  action  may  properly  be  taken  in  the  premises. 

The  subject-matter  of  the  above,  together  with  a 
resohition  to  appoint  the  proposed  committee  by 
ballot,  having  been  made  the  order  of  the  day,  the 
Kev.  Cleland  K.  Nelson,  D.D.,  of  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland,  offered  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lution : 

Whereas,  In  General  Convention  of  1868  the  House  of  Cleri- 
cal and  Lay  Deputies  did  request  of  the  House  of  Bishops  the 
setting  forth  of  such  additional  rubrics  in  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  as  in  their  judgment  may  be  deemed  necessary  ;  and, 
whereas,  the  House  of  Bishops  have  not  complied  with  the 
above-mentioned  request,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  do 
hereby,  in  reply  to  Message  No.  5,  from  the  House  of  Bishops, 
most  respectfully  aiul  affectionately  renew  the  request  that 
our  Right  Reverend  Fathers  assembled  at  the  House  of  Bishops 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHURCH.  251 

prepare  and  propose  for  the  consideration  of  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  some  well-digested  scheme  of  such 
additional  rubrics  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  such 
further  canonical  legislation  as,  in  their  judgment,  they  may 
deem  necessary. 

The  Eev.  William  H.  Clarke,  of  the  Diocese  of 
Georgia,  moved  to  amend  the  above  by  striking  out 
all  after  the  word  "  Kesolved,"  and  inserting  instead 
thereof  the  words — 

I.  That,  the  House  of  Deputies  do  not  concur  in  the  resolu- 
tion communicated  in  Message  No.  5,  from  the  House  of 
Bishops. 

II.  Resolved,  That  this  House  request  the  House  of  Bishops 
to  take  definite  action  upon  the  report  of  their  Committee  on 
Ritual,  and  communicate  the  result  to  this  House  for  their  con- 
sideration. < 

The  Kev.  E.  Edwards  Beardsley,  D.D.,  of  the 
Diocese  of  Connecticut,  offered  the  following  reso- 
lution as  a  substitute  for  the  whole  matter  before 
the  House,  which  was  finally  adopted  : 

Besohed,  That  this  House  concurs  in  the  resolution  con- 
tained in  Message  No.  5,  from  the  House  of  Bishops,  asking 
the  appointment  of  a  joint  committee  to  consider  the  Report 
on  Ritual  Uniformity  sent  to  this  House  with  said  Message. 

The  resolution  itself,  as  amended,  was  then 
adopted.  After  no  little  discussion  respecting  the 
choice  of  the  members  on  the  part  of  the  lower 
House,  of  the  committee  contemplated  in  the  above 
resolutions,  tjie  joint  committee  appointed  to  con- 
sider and  report  upon  the  report  on  Ritual  Unifor- 
mity made  to  the  House  of    Bishops  by  a   com- 


252        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

mittee  of  the  said  House  of  Bishops,  reported  the 
accompanying  Canon  and  resohition  for  action 
thereon  by  the  two  Houses  of  Convention : 

Canon  of  Ritual. 

§  1.  This  Church,  holding  fast  its  liberty  in  Christ  its  Head, 
recognizes  no  other  law  of  Ritual  than  such  as  it  shall  have 
itself  accepted  or  provided  ;  meaning  thereby  in  no  wise  to 
prejudice  or  arraign  the  different  rites,  usages,  customs,  or 
laws  of  other  branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

§  2.  The  provisions  for  Ritual  in  this  Church  are  : 

1.  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  with  the  Offices  and 
Ordinal  thereto  appended,  as  adapted  to  the  use  of 
this  Church  by  additions,  omissions,  or  other  altera- 
tions from  time  to  time  constitutionally  made. 

2.  The  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England  in  use  in  the 
American  Provinces  before  the  year  1789,  and  r.ot 
subsequently  superseded,  altered,  or  repealed,  by 
legislation,  General  or  Diocesan,  of  this  Church. 

3.  The  Canonical  or  other  regular  legislative  or  judicial 
action  or  decisions  of  this  Church,  in  its  Conventions, 
General  or  Diocesan,  or  by  its  duly  constituted  au- 
thorities. 

§  3.  For  the  greater  uniformity  and  simplicity  of  the  public 
worship  of  this  Church — for  the  more  effectual  enforcement  of 
due  habits  of  solemn  reverence  in  its  congregations,  and  out 
of  considerate  regard  to  the  conditions  under  which  the  exten- 
sion of  the  Church  is  now  and  hereafter  to  take  place — it  is 
hereby  declared  and  provided,  that  in  all  questions  arising  con- 
cerning Ritual  Observance,  the  Administration  of  the  Law  of 
Ritual  of  this  Church,  whether  for  enforcement  or  for  restric- 
tion, appertains  to  the  office  and  duty  of  the  Ordinary,  who-e 
official  written  determination,  whether  of  his  own  motion,  or 
at  the  official  demand  either  of  a  Rector  or  of  a  Vestry,  shall  be 
held  to  be  the  settlement  of  any  question  which  shall  at  any 
time  arise  concerning  Ritual  :  Pnyinded,  however,  that  contra- 
dictory determinations  shall  be  subject,  on  memorial  or  other- 
wise, to  revision  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  under  such  rules 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  253 

and  regulations  for  bringing  the  same  before  tliem,  as  said 
House  of  Bishops  shall  prescribe. 

William  Rollinson  Whittingham, 

Bishop  of  Maryland. 

William  Cooper  Mead, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  House  of  Deputies. 


Resolution  adopted  by  the  Joint  Committee  on  Ritual. 
Resolved,  That  a  joint  committee  of  three  of  each  Order  be 
appointed  to  examine  the  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England, 
of  1603,  and  report  to  the  next  General  Convention  v/hat  por- 
tions were  in  use  in  the  American  Provinces  in  the  year  1789, 
and  how  far  the  same  have  been  modified  by  repeal,  or  altera- 
tion, or  other  mode,  by  action  of  this  Church,  in  its  Conven- 
tions, General  or  Diocesan,  and  whether  any  portion  requires 
modification  or  repeal. 

The  Kev.  Daniel  E.  Goodwin,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  of 
the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  offered  the  following 
amendment  to  the  Canon  on  Kitual  reported  by 
the  joint  committee,  to  wit : 

Resolved,  That  the  proposed  Canon  be  amended  by  inserting 
in  the  first  section,  after  the  word  "Provided,"  the  words  "in 
her  Canons  and  Book  of  Common  Prayer,"  and  by  striking  out 
the  whole  of  the  second  section. 

The  Eev.  William  Cooper  Mead,  D.D.,  of  the 
Diocese  of  Connecticut,  moved  as  an  amendment 
to  the  amendment  to  the  resolution  reported  by  the 
joint  committee  on  the  report  made  to  the  House 
of  Bishops  on  Eitual,  to  strike  out  Subsection  [2] 
of  §  II.  of  the  Canon  of  Eitual,  and  to  insert  after 
the  words  "constituted  authorities"  in  Subsection 
[3]  the  words  "  and  under  this  head,"  etc.,  so  that 
the  Canon,  as  amended,  would  read  : 


254  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 


Canon  op  Ritual. 

§  1.  [As  reported  by  tlie  joint  committee.] 

§  2.  Tlie  provisions  for  Ritual  in  this  Church  are  : 

1.  [As  reported.] 

2.  [As  reported,  with  the  following  addition  :] 

And  under  this  head  the  following  acts  in  the  administration 
of  the  Holy  Communion,  and  on  other  occasions  of  public 
worship,  are  prohibited  : 

(1.)  The  use  of  Incense. 

(2.)  Placing  or  retaining  a  Crucifix  in  any  part  of  the  Church. 

(3.)  The  use  of  lights  on  or  about  the  Holy  Table,  except 
when  necessary. 

(4.)  The  elevation  of  the  elements  in  the  Holy  Communion 
in  such  manner  as  to  expose  them  to  the  view  of  the  people  as 
objects  toward  which  adoration  is  to  be  made,  in  or  after  the 
prayer  of  Consecration,  or  in  the  act  of  administering  them,  or 
in  conveying  them  to  or  from  the  communicants. 

(5.)  The  mixing  of  water  with  the  wine  as  part  of  the  ser- 
vice. 

(6.)  The  washing  of  the  Priest's  hands,  or  the  ablution  of 
the  vessels,  as  part  of  the  service. 

(7.)  Bowings,  crossings,  genuflections,  prostrations,  reve- 
rences, bowing  down  upon  or  kissing  the  Holy  Table,  and  kneel- 
ing, except  as  allowed,  provided  for,  or  directed  by  rubric  or  can- 
on ;  it  being  provided  that  reverence  at  the  mention  of  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  is  not  intended  to  be  disallowed  :  and  it  being 
further  provided  that  private  personal  devotion,  before  or  after 
oflBcial  ministration,  is  not  to  be  understood  to  include  or  jus- 
tify any  of  the  acts  prohibited. 

(8.)  The  celebration  or  receiving  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
by  any  Bishop  or  Priest  when  no  person  receives  with  him. 

(0.)  Employing  or  permitting  any  person  or  persons  not  in 
Holy  Orders  to  assist  the  Minister  in  any  part  of  the  Order  for 
the  Administration  of  the  Holy  Communion. 

(10.)  Using,  at  any  administration  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
any  Prayers,  Collects,  Gospels,  or  Epistles,  other  than  those 
provided  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  under  §  XIV.  of 
Canon  13  of  Title  I.  of  the  Digest. 

§  3.  [As  reported  by  the  joint  committee.] 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  2oo 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Godwin  withdrew  his  amendment, 
and  accepted  that  offered  by  tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Mead  in 
its  stead. 

The  Rev.  Philander  K.  Cady,  D.D.,  of  tlie  Dio- 
cese of  J^eAV-York,  offered  the  following  amend- 
ment to  the  amendment  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Mead,  to  wit,  to  strike  out  all  of  the  Canon  of 
Ritual  as  reported,  and  substitute  therefor  as  fol- 
lows : 

Canon  op  Ritual. 

In  all  matters  of  Ritual  that  are  doubtful,  reference  shall  be 
made  to  the  Ordinary,  and  no  changes  shall  be  made  against 
the  godly  counsel  and  judgment  of  the  Bishop. 

Mr.  Bernard  Carter,  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland, 
moved  the  indefinite  postponement  of  the  whole 
subject  under  consideration. 

Pending  action  on  this  motion.  Message  'No.  50 
from  the  House  of  Bishops  informed 

the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  that  it  has,  in  conform- 
ity with  the  recommendation  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Ritual 
Uniformity,  adopted  the  following  Canon  of  Ritual,  to  be 

Canon  — . 

§  I.  This  Church,  holding  fast  its  liberty  in  Christ  its  Head, 
recognizes  no  other  law  of  ritual  than  such  as  it  shall  have 
itself  accepted  or  provided  ;  meaning  thereby  in  no  wise  to 
prejudice  or  arraign  the  differing  rights,  usages,  customs,  or 
laws  of  other  branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

§  II.  The  provisions  for  Ritual  in  this  Church  are  : 

1.  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  with  the  Offices  and 
Ordinal  thereto  appended,  as  adapted  to  the  use  of 
this  Church  by  additions,  omissions,  or  other  altera- 
tions from  time  to  time  constitutionally  made. 

2.  The  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England  agreed  upon 
in   1603,  and   in  use  in  the   American  Provinces   and 


256        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION. 

States    before    the   year   1789,    and   not    subsequently 
superseded,  altered,  or  repealed,  by  legislation.  General 
or  Diocesan,  of  tliis  Church. 
3.  The  Canonical  or  otlier  regular  legislative  or  iudicial 
action   or    decisions  of    this    Cliurch,    in    its    Conven- 
tions, General  or  Diocesan,  or  by  its  duly  constituted 
authorities. 
§  III.  For  the  greater  uniformity  and  simplicity  of  the  pub- 
lic worship  of  this  Church,  for  the  more  effectual  enforcement 
of  due  habits  of  solemn  reverence  in  its  congregations,  and 
out  of  considerate  regard  to  the  conditions  under  which  the 
extension  of  the  Church  is  now  and  hereafter  to  take  place,  it 
is  hereby  declared  and  provided,  that  in  all  questions  arising 
concerning  Eitual  Observance,  the  Administration  of  the  Law 
of  Ritual  of  this  Church,  whether  for  enforcement  or  for  re- 
striction, appertains  to  the  oiRce  and  duty  of  the  Ordinary, 
whose   official   written   determination,   whether    of    his    own 
motion,  or  at  the  official  demand  either  of  a  Rector  or  of  a 
Vestry,  shall  be  held  to  be  the  settlement   of  any   question 
which  shall  at  any  time  arise  concerning  Ritual  :  Provided, 
however,  that  contradictory  determinations  shall  be  subject,  on 
memorial  or  otherwise,  to  revision  by  the  House  of  Bishops, 
under  such  rules  and  regulations  for  bringing  the  same  before 
them  as  said  House  of  Bishops  shall  prescribe, 

Bcsohied,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concurring, 
That  a  joint  committee  of  three  of  each  order  be  appointed  to 
examine  the  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England,  of  1603,  and 
report  to  the  next  General  Convention  what  portions  were  in 
use  in  the  American  States  in  the  year  1789,  and  how  far  the 
same  have  been  modified  by  repeal,  or  alteration,  or  other 
mode,  by  action  of  this  Church,  in  its  Conventions,  General  or 
Diocesan,  and  whether  any  portion  requires  modification  or  re- 
peal. 

The  House  having  resumed  consideration  of  the 
Report  on  Eitiial,  leave  of  the  House  was  granted 
to  Mr.  Bernard  Carter  to  withdraw  his  motion  of 
indefinite  postponement  of  tlie  whole  subject  under 
consideration,  offered  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  the 


OF   THE   AMEIUCAX    ClllTRCIi.  257 

session,  whereupon  Eev.  Dr.  Cady  withdrew  the 
amendment  offered  bj  liim  to  the  amendment 
offered  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Mead. 

The  Eev.  Abner  Jackson,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  of  the 
Diocese  of  Connecticut,  offered  the  following 
amendment  to  the  amendment  offered  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Mead,  to  wit : 

Resolved,  the  House  of  Bishops  concurring,  That  a  joint 
committee,  consisting  of  five  Bishops,  five  presbyters,  and 
five  laymen,  be  appointed,  to  sit  during  the  recess  of  this  Con- 
vention, in  order  to  ascertain  and  determine  clearly  what  is  the 
existing  Law  of  Ritual  in  this  Church  ;  and  then  to  inquire 
whether  any,  and  if  any,  what,  further  provision  is  required 
for  securing  the  due  performance  of  Divine  Service,  and  re- 
port the  same  to  the  next  General  Convention,  for  its  action 
thereon. 

At  a  later  stage  of  the  discussion  leave  was  refus- 
ed to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Jackson  to  withdraw  his  amend- 
ment, which  was  then  defeated  by  a  vote  of  20  nays 
to  14  yeas  and  6  divided  of  the  clerical  order,  and 
21  nays  to  12  ayes  and  2  divided  of  the  lay  dele- 
gations. 

Mr.  S.  Corning  Judd,  of  the  Diocese  of  Illinois, 
then  moved  to  amend  the  amendment  before  the 
House  (that  offered  by  Eev.  Dr.  Mead)  by  strikinn^ 
out,  in  §  I.,  the  words  "  recognizes  no  other  law  of 
ritual  than  such  as  it  shall  have  itself  accepted  or 
provided,"  and  "•  thereby,"  and  by  inserting  before 
the  word  "  meaning,"  in  said  section,  the  Avord 
"  and,"  and  adding  after  the  words  "  Church  of 
Christ,"  the  words  "  declares  as  follows,"  so  that 
the  section  as  amended  would  read  : 


258  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Canon  of  Ritual. 

§  I.  This  Church,  holding  fast  its  liberty  in  Christ  its  Head, 
and  meaning  in  no  wise  to  prejudice  or  arraign  the  differing 
rites,  usages,  customs,  or  laws  of  other  branches  of  the  Church 
of  Clirist,  declares  as  follows,  etc. 

The  Kev.  John  H.  Egar,  of  the  Diocese  of  Pitts- 
burgh, offered  the  following  as  a  substitute  for  the 
amendments  under  consideration,  to  wit : 

Canon  of  Ritual. 

When  Ritual  observances  are  called  in  question  before  the 
Ordinarj,  and  such  observances  are  not  expressly  provided  for 
or  prohibited  by  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  the  Constitu- 
tion or  Canons  of  this  Church,  recourse  may  be  had  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  precedent  to  the  Rubrics  and  Canons  which 
were  in  force,  and  to  the  usage  which  was  allowed  in  the 
Church  of  England,  while  this  Church  was  a  part  of  said 
Church,— that  is  to  say,  after  the  Reformation  and  before  the 
year  1776  :  Provided  that  no  Rubrics  or  Canons  of  the  said 
Church  of  England  shall  be  considered  as  in  any  way  binding, 
which  have  been  superseded  by  the  legislation  of  the  General 
Convention  of  this  Church. 

The  question  being  taken  on  the  substitute  offered 
by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Egar,  it  was  lost. 

Mr.  William  Cornwall,  of  the  Diocese  of  Xen- 
tucky,  offered  the  following  as  a  substitute  for  the 
amendments  before  the  House,  to  wit : 

Canon  op  Ritual. 

§  I.  This  Church,  holding  fast  its  liberty  in  Christ  its  Head, 
recognizes  no  other  law  of  ritual  than  such  as  it  shall  have  it- 
self accepted  or  provided  ;  meaning  thereby  in  no  wise  to  pre- 
judice or  arraign  the  differing  rites,  usages,  customs,  or  laws 
of  other  branches  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 

^  II.   the  provisions  for  Ritual  in  this  Church  are  : 


OF  THE  AMERK^AN  CHURCH.        259 

The  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  with  the  Offices  and  Ordinal 
thereto  appended,  as  adapted  to  tlie  use  of  this  Church  by 
additions,  omissions,  or  other  alterations  from  time  to  time  con- 
stitutionally made. 

Every  minister  of  this  Church  shall  be  liable  to  presentment 
and  trial  for  using  any  ritual,  acts,  or  observances  which  teach 
or  symbolize  any  doctrine  contrary  to  that  held  by  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

Resohcdy  That  this  Canon  shall  be  placed  after  Subsection 
[2]  of  Canon  2,  of  Title  I.  of  the  Digest  of  the  Canons. 

The  question  being  taken  on  the  substitute  offer- 
ed bj  Mr.  Cornwall,  it  was  lost. 

The  Rev.  John  Mcl^amara,  D.D.,  of  the  Diocese 
of  Nebraska,  moved  to  lay  the  whole  subject  under 
discussion  ^on  the  table ;  wdiich  motion  was  lost. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  amendment 
offered  by  Mr.  Judd,  it  was  lost. 

Mr.  George  W.  Eace,  of  the  Diocese  of  Louisiana, 
moved  to  strike  out  the  second  subsection  of  the 
amended  Canon  as  proposed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mead, 
to  wit,  the  w^ords  : 

2.  The  Canons  of  the  Church  of  England,  agreed  upon  in 
1603,  and  in  use  in  the  American  Colonies  or  States  before  the 
year  1789,  and  not  subsequently  superseded,  altered,  or  repeal- 
ed by  legislation,  General  or  Diocesan,  of  this  Church. 

Which  motion  w^as  lost. 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  amendment 
proposed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mead,  there  were  11 
dioceses  voting  aye,  25  nay,  and  4  divided,  of  tlie 
clerical  order  ;  and  21  nays,  10  ayes,  and  4  divided 
of  the  laity. 

The  report  of  the  joint  committee  was  there' 
upon,  on  motion,  laid  on  the  table. 


260        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

It  was  moved  by  the  Rev.  Benjatnin  I.  Ilaight, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  that  the  House  "  concur  with  the 
House  of  Bishops  in  Message  No.  50." 

Mr.  William  Welsh,  of  the  Diocese  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, moved  to  amend  the  Canon  communicated  to 
the  House  by  Message  No.  50,  from  the  House  of 
Bishops,  by  striking  out  the  words  in  §  III.  follow- 
ing the  word  ^'  Promded^'  and  inserting  instead  the 
words  '^  that  said  determination  shall  have  moral 
force,  but  no  legal  effect,  miless  in  the  case  of  a  trial 
and  judgment  by  a  legally  constituted  court,  and 
provided,  also,  that  the  operation  of  this  Canon 
shall  cease  at  the  close  of  the  next  General  Con- 
vention ;"  which  motion  was  lost. 

The  Eev.  Meyer  Lewin,  D.D.,  of  the  Diocese  of 
Maryland,  moved  to  amend  the  Canon  commnni- 
ated  in  Message  No.  50,  from  the  House  of  Bishops, 
by  striking  out  ''  1603  "  from  §  II.,  and  "  a  "  before 
"Rector,"  and  "  a  "  before  ^'  Yestry,"  and  inserting 
the  word  "the"  before  "  Rector,"  and  "the"  be- 
fore "  Yestry." 

Mr.  Samuel  B.  Churchill,  of  the  Diocese  of  Ken- 
tucky, moved  to  amend  the  amendment  offered  by 
the  clerical  deputy  from  Maryland,  as  follows : 


Amend  by  striking  out  Subsection  3,  and  strike  out  §  III,, 
and  insert  in  lieu  thereof  the  following  : 

Every  minister  in  this  Church  shall  be  liable  to  presentment 
and  trial  for  using  any  Ritual  acts  or  observances  which  teach 
or  symbolize  any  doctrine  contrary  to  that  held  by  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  that 
the  authorities  of  the  Church  shall  take  steps,  with  all  reason- 
able promptness,  to  suppress  all  services,  ceremonies,  or  acts 


OF  THE   AMERICAN    CHUECIl.  261 

which  symbolize  or  teach  the  doctrine  commonly  known  as 
Transubstantiation. 

Which  was  lost. 

The  question  recurring  on  the  amendment  offer- 
ed by  the  clerical  deputy  from  Maryland,  it  was 
lost. 

The  question  then  recurred  on  the  motion  of  con- 
currence with  the  House  of  Bishops,  which  was  lost. 

There  were  40  dioceses  represented  by  clerical 
votes,  of  which  20  dioceses  voted  in  the  affirmative, 
13  dioceses  in  the  negative,  and  T  dioceses  divided. 

There  were  34  dioceses  represented  by  lay  votes,  of 
which  18  dioceses  voted  in  the  affirmative,  14  dio- 
ceses in  the  negative,  and  2  dioceses  were  divided. 

The  Bishops  on  the  closing  day  of  the  session 
sent  the  following  message  Q^o.  71) : 

The  House  of  Bishops  informs  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies  that  it  has  adopted  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  concurring. 
That  the  following  Canon  be  adopted  and  enacted,  to  be  enti- 
tled 

Canon  — . 

The  elevation  of  the  elements  in  the  Holy  Communion  in 
such  manner  as  to  expose  them  to  the  view  of  the  people  as 
objects  toward  which  adoration  is  to  be  made,  in  or  after  the 
Prayer  of  Consecration,  or  in  the  act  of  administering  them,  or 
in  carrying  them  to  or  from  the  communicants,  and  any  gesture, 
posture,  or  act  implying  such  adoration  ;  and  any  ceremony 
not  prescribed  as  part  of  the  Order  of  the  Administration  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  or  Holy  Communion,  in  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  and  the  celebration  or  reception  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion by  any  Bishop  or  Priest  when  no  person  receives  with 
him  ;  likewise  the  use,  at  any  administration  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, of  any  Hymns,  Prayers,  Collects,  Epistles,  or  Gospels, 


THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 


other  than  those  appointed  in  the  authorized  formularies  of  the 
Church,  or  under  J^  XIV.  of  Canon  13  of  Title  I.  of  the  Digest, 
are  hereby  forbidden. 

On  the  question  of  concurrence,  the  vote  being 
taken  by  dioceses  and  orders,  there  were  39  dio- 
ceses represented  by  clerical  deputies,  of  wliich  17 
dioceses  voted  in  the  affirmative,  18  dioceses  voted 
in  the  negative,  and  4  dioceses  were  divided.  Of 
the  laity  there  were  33  dioceses  represented,  of 
which  18  dioceses  voted  in  the  affirmative,  12  dio- 
ceses voted  in  the  negative,  and  there  were  3  dio- 
ceses divided.  The  resolution  of  concurrence  was 
lost  for  lack  of  concurrence  of  orders. 

The  Eev.  Theodore  B.  Lyman,  D.D.,  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  California,  offered  the  following  resolutions : 

Jtesolved,  the  House  of  Bishops  concurring,  That  this  Con- 
vention hereby  expresses  its  decided  condemnation  of  all  cere- 
monies, observances,  and  practices  which  are  fitted  to  express  a 
doctrine  foreign  to  that  set  forth  in  the  authorized  standards  of 
this  Church. 

Jtesolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  House  the  paternal 
counsel  and  advice  of  the  Right  Reverend  Fathers,  the  Bishops 
of  the  Church,  is  deemed  sufficient  at  this  time  to  secure  the 
suppression  of  all  that  is  irregular  and  unseemly,  and  to  pro- 
mote greater  uniformity  in  conducting  the  public  worship  of 
the  Church,  and  in  the  administration  of  the  Holy  Sacraments. 

A  division  of  the  question  having  been  called  for, 
the  resolutions  were  successively  adopted  with  but 
little,  if  any,  opposition. 

In  the  course  of  this  protracted  and  brilliant  dis- 
cussion, and  as  a  part  of  a  speech  of  great  eloquence 
and  power,  the  Eev.  Dr.  DeKoven  of  Wisconsin, 


OF   THK    AMEKICAN    CHUKCH.  263 

uttered  the  following  words,   which   are  here  re- 
corded as  a  part  of  the  liistorj  of  this  session : 

It  is  impossible  for  me,  in  the  space  allowed,  to  go  into  the 
doctrine  of  the  Real  Presence.  1  only  want  to  say  something 
with  regard  to  it,  and  then  something  with  respect  to  another 
question. 

First  of  all,  the  objection  that  I  have  to  this  Canon,*  or 
any  other  like  it,  is  that  it  bears  upon  doctrine,  and  seems  to 
settle  it  in  one  direction.  Now  questions  of  doctrine  should 
not  be  settled  by  any  Canon  which  does  not  bear  directly  uijon 
doctrine.  Our  Church  has  always  acted  on  this  principle.  It 
has  a  Canon  providing  that  if  people  teach  false  doctrine  they 
should  be  tried  and  suspended,  or  punished  in  accordance  with 
that  Canon  ;  and  the  objection  to  this  is  that  it  implies  that 
people  teach  false  doctrine  by  certain  ceremonies  and  then 
punishes  them,  where,  perhaps,  they  use  those  ceremonies 
without  teaching  false  doctrine.  I  want  to  do  what  my  brother 
from  Wisconsin  did  yesterday,  only  in  another  direction  ;  I 
want  to  give  any  body  in  this  House  the  opportunity  of  pre- 
senting me  for  false  doctrine  if  he  wishes  ;  and,  in  order  to  do 
so  I  choose  some  language  which  is  rather  balder  and  bolder 
than  any  I  myself  would  use  excepting  in  a  company  of  theolo- 
gians, and  I  use  this  language  for  another  purpose  which  I  will 
explain  presently.  I  believe  in— and  this  will  be  printed  to- 
morrow, and  I  will  write  it  out,  if  necessary,  for  any  body  who 
wants  to  use  it— I  believe  in  "the  Real,  Actual  Presence  of  our 
Lord  under  the  form  of  bread  and  wine  upon  the  altars  of  our 
churches."  I  myself  adore,  and  would,  if  it  were  necessary  or 
my  duty,  ' '  teach  my  people  to  adore  Christ  present  in  the  ele- 
ments under  the  form  of  bread  and  wine."  And  I  use  these 
words  because  they  are  a  bold  statement  of  the  doctrine  of  the 
Real  Presence  ;  but  I  use  them  for  another  reason ;  they  are 
adjudicated  words  ;  they  are  words  which,  used  by  a  divine  of 
the  Church  of  England,  have  been  tried  in  the  highest  ecclesi- 
astical court  of  England,  and  have  been  decided  by  that  eccle- 


*That  communicated  in  Message  No.  71,  from  the  House  of 
Bishops. 


264        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Biaatical  court  to  come  within  the  limits  of  the  truth  held  in  the 
Church  of  England.  So  much  so  that  that  very  Sir  Robert  Phil, 
limore,  whose  judicial  decisions  have  been  quoted  here  before, 
has  decided  that  "  if  he  were  to  pronounce  these  words  wrong" 
— now  I  read  his  very  language — "  I  should  be  passing  sentence, 
in  my  opinion,  upon  a  long  roll  of  illustrious  divines  who  have 
adorned  our  University  and  fought  the  good  fight  of  our  Church 
from  Ridley" — whom  the  clerical  delegate  from  Massachusetts 
quoted  as  entertaining  his  view — "  from  Ridley  to  Keble — from 
the  divine  whose  martyrdom  the  cross  of  Oxford  commemo- 
rates, to  the  divine  in  whose  honor  that  University  has  just 
founded  her  last  college."* 

The  following  "  Declaration"  was  communicated 
to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  for  the 
information  of  that  body  concerning  the  action  of 
the  Bishops  in  a  matter  of  much  gravity,  and  of 
great  interest  to  both  Houses : 

Declaration  op  the  Bishops  in  Council. 

October  11,  1871. 
We,  the  subscribers,  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States,  being  asked,  in  order  to  the  quiet- 
ing of  the  consciences  of  sundry  members  of  the  said  Church, 
to  declare  our  conviction  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  word 
"  Regenerate"  in  the  OflBces  for  the  Ministration  of  Baptism  of 
Infants,  do  declare  that,  in  our  opinion,  the  word  "Regene- 
rate" is  not  there  so  used  as  to  determine  that  a  moral  change 
in  the  subject  oi  baptism  is  wrought  in  the  sacrament. 
(Signed)         B.  B.  Smith,  Bishop  of  Kentucky. 

Chas.  p.  McIlvaine,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of 

Ohio. 
Saml.  a.  McCoskry,  Bishop  of  Michigan. 
William  R.  Wiiittingham,  Bishop  of  Mary- 
land. 
Alfred  Lee,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Dela- 
ware. 

*  Debates  of  the  House  of  Deputies,  pp.  505,  506. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  265 

John  Johns,  Bishop  of  tlie  Diocese  of  Virginia. 

Manton  Eastburn,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of 
Massachusetts. 

W.  M.  Green,  Bishop  of  Mississippi. 

John  Payne,  Missionary  Bishop  of  Cape  Pal- 
mas,  Africa. 

John  Williams,  Bishop  of  Connecticut. 

Henry  J.  Whitehouse,  Bishop  of  Illinois. 

Thomas  F.  Davis,  Bishop  of  South-Carolina. 

Thomas  Atkinson,  Bishop  of  North-Carolina. 

Wm.  Ingraham  Kip,  Bishop  of  California. 

Henry  W.  Lee,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Iowa. 

Horatio  Potter,  Bishop  of  New-York. 

Thomas  M.  Clark,  Bishop  of  Rhode  Island. 

Alexander  Gregg,  Bishop  of  Texas, 

G.  T.  Bedell,  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Ohio. 

H.  B.  Whipple,  Bishop  of  Minnesota. 

Henry  C.  Lay,  Bishop  of  Easton. 

Jos.  C.  Talbot,  Assistant  Bishop  of  Indiana. 

Wm.  Bacon  Stevens,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Richard  H.  Wilmer,  Bishop  of  Alabama. 

Thomas  H.  Vail,  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of 
Kansas. 

A.  Cleveland  Coxe,  Bishop  of  Western  New- 
York. 

Charles  Todd  Quintard,  Bishop  of  Tennessee. 

Robert  H.  Clarkson,  Bishop  of  Nebraska. 

George  M.  Randall,  Missionary  Bishop  of 
Colorado. 

John  B.  Kerfoot,  Bishop  of  Pittsburgh. 

J.  P.  B.  Wilmer,  Bishop  of  Louisiana. 

Geo.  David  Cummins,  Assistant  Bishop  of 
Kentucky. 

William  E.  Armitage,  Bishop  of  Wisconsin. 

Henry  A.  Neely,  Bishop  of  Maine. 

Daniel  S.  Tuttle,  Missionary  Bishop  of  Mon- 
tana. 

John  W.  Beckwith,  Bishop  of  Georgia. 


2(56  THE   GENEKAL    CONVENTION 

Francis  M.  WiriTTi.E,  Assistant  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  of  Virginia. 

W.  H.  A.  BissELL,  Bishop  of  Vermont. 

C.  F.  Robertson,  Bishoj)  of  Missouri. 

B.  WiSTAR  JtlouRis,  Missionary  Bishop  of  Ore- 
gon. 

A.  N.  LiTTLEJOHN,  Bishop  of  Long  Island. 

Wm.  Croswell  Doane,  Bishop  of  Albany. 

F.   D.    Huntington,  Bishop   of  Central   New- 
York. 

O.    W.    Whitaker,     Missionary     Bishop     of 
Nevada. 

Henry    N.     Pierce,    Missionary    Bishop    of 
Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Territory. 

William  W.  Niles,  Bishop  of  New-Hampshire. 

William  Pinkney,  Assistant  Bishop  of  Mary- 
land. 

W.  B.   W.  Howe,  Assistant  Bishop  of  South- 
Carolina. 
Attest :         Henry  C.  Potter,  Secretary. 
Oct.  12,  1871. 

The  business  of  tlie  fifth  day,  Octoher  9th,  was 
stayed  that  prayers  might  be  offered  "  in  behalf  of 
the  great  city  of  Chicago,"  then  "  suffering  under 
the  calamity  of  fire,"  and  in  behalf  of  "  its  inhabi- 
tants who  are  liouseless  and  liomeless  under  the 
visitation  of  Ahnighty  God."  On  the  evening  of 
the  same  day,  after  a  sermon  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
Lichfield,  an  offering  of  $2190.91  was  made  in 
behalf  of  the  sufferers,  among  the  very  first  of  that 
outpouring  of  wealth  by  which  the  world  itself 
sought  to  show  its  sympathy  with  the  necessities  of 
this  doomed  city.  At  a  later  day  the  sufferers  by 
fire  in  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  were  commended 
to  the  charity  of  the  Church. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  267 

In  the  matter  of  the  Hymnal  the  following  ac- 
tion was  iinallj  taken : 

Resolved,  That  the  Hymnal  reported  by  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee of  this  Geoieral  Convention  be  authorized  for  use  in  tliis 
Church,  and  that  no  other  Hymns  be  allowed  in  the  Public 
Worship  of  this  Church,  except  such  as  are  now  ordinarily 
bound  up  with  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

Resolved,  That  this  Hymnal,  when  finally  corrected  by  the 
Committee  thereon,  shall  be  free  to  be  printed  and  published 
by  all  responsible  publishers  who  shall  obtain  a  license  to  that 
effect  from  the  trustees  of  the  Fund  for  the  Relief  of  Widows 
and  Orplians  of  Deceased  Clergymen,  and  of  Aged,  Infirm,  and 
Disabled  Clergymen,  and  who  shall  assure  to  such  trustees  a 
payment,  to  be  applied  for  the  uses  of  said  fund,  equivalent  to 
ten  per  cent  upon  the  retail  selling  price  ;  and  that  the  copy- 
right of  the  Hymnal  be  vested  in  said  trustees. 

Resolved,  That  the  first  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  shall 
take  effect  on  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  1872. 

Resolved,  That  this  Hymnal  shall  not  be  bound  up  with  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  until  order  to  that  effect  shall  be 
taken  by  the  General  Convention. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  Hymnody  of  the 
Church  shall  be  continued,  with  instructions  to  make  such 
alterations  in  the  text  of  the  Hymnal  now  adopted,  as  may  be 
needed  in  order  to  secure  accuracy  and  literary  completeness. 

Resolved,  That  suggestions  as  to  the  introduction  of  Hymns 
into  this  Hymnal,  or  the  omission  of  Hymns  from  it,  may  be 
submitted  to  the  Committee  until  Tuesday,  October  17,  1871, 
at  3  o'clock,  and  that  the  Committee  be  requested  to  report 
their  judgment  thereon  before  the  adjournment  of  this  Con- 
vention. 

Resolved,  That  if  the  said  supplementary  report  shall  be 
adopted  by  the  two  Houses  of  the  General  Convention,  the 
Committee  shall  be  thereby  instructed  to  amend  the  Hymnal 
accordingly. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  time  above  named,  the 
Committee  on  the  Hymnal,  who  were  authorized 


268        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

to  receive  suggestions  as  to  the  omission  of  Hymns 
from  the  Hymnal,  and  the  addition  of  Hymns 
thereto,  reported  that  they  had  been  greatly  aided 
in  the  work  of  revision  by  contributions  which  have 
been  offered  by  members  of  the  Convention.  A 
re-examination  of  the  Hymnal  disclosed  several 
literary  blemishes  and  errors  of  typography,  which 
were  to  be  corrected  before  the  book  was  printed 
for  the  use  of  the  Church. 

In  order  to  make  room  for  additional  Hymns,  and  believing 
tliat  their  omission  will  not  impair  the  value  of  the  collection, 
the  Committee  recommend  that  the  following  Hymns  be  re- 
moved from  the  Hymnal,  namely,  Hymns  11,  72,  98,  134,  193, 
209,  250,  315,  367,  441,  492,— eleven  in  all. 

In  compliance  with  the  earnest  wish  of  many  persons,  the 
Committee  have  inserted  several  additional  Hymns,  which 
have  been  carefully  selected  from  a  large  amount  of  material 
kindly  placed  in  their  hands,  most  of  which  have  been  widely 
adopted  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  have  become  endeared 
to  our  congregations  by  frequent  use  during  the  last  three 
years,  under  the  sanction  of  the  authorities  of  the  Church. 

The  Committee  assure  the  Convention  that  nothing  will  be 
found  in  the  Hymnal,  as  thus  revised,  which  can  offend  a  re- 
fined Christian  taste,  and  they  are  confident  that  in  no  case  has 
an  expression  been  admitted  that  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
doctrines  of  our  Communion,  and  the  teachings  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer. 

The  Committee  were  instructed  to  amend  the 
Hymnal  accordingly,  and  they  were  further  di- 
rected to  arrange  for  and  supervise  the  printing  of 
the  iirst  edition. 

With  reference  to  an  inquiry  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee on  Canons,  whether  the  conjunctive  "  and  " 
between  the  words  "  clericaV  and  ^'lai/''  in  Art.  2 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  269 

of  the  Constitution,  was  not  an  unanthorized  sub- 
stitution for  the  disjunctive  "  or;'^  it  was  ascertained 
that  in  the  original  document,  containing  the  first 
Constitution  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  bearing  date  on  the 
second  day  of  October,  1789,  the  clause  referred  to 
is  as  follows:  "In  all  questions  when  required  by 
the  clerical  or  lay  representation  from  any  State ;" 
that  the  word  "  or"  was  uniformly  used  until  the 
year  1808  ;  and  that  since  that  period,  the  word 
"  and  "  has  been  printed  instead  of  "  or  ;"  that  the 
original  text  of  the  Constitution  has  not  been 
changed  in  the  mode  prescribed  by  the  Constitu- 
tion ;  and  that  the  alteration  was  evidently  a  typo- 
graphical error,  and  is  unauthorized. 

The  Secretary,  in  all  future  publications  of  the 
Constitution,  was  instructed  to  cause  the  word 
"  or^''  to  be  printed  between  the  words  "  clerical  " 
and  "  Z«y,"  in  the  second  article  of  the  Constitution, 
instead  of  the  word  "  and.^^ 

The  proposed  change  in  Art.  5  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, removing  restrictions  upon  the  division  of 
dioceses,  was  ratified,  and  further  amendments  in 
Arts.  5  and  4  laid  over  for  the  final  action  of  the  Con- 
vention of  1874.  Arkansas  was  admitted  into 
union.  The  revision  of  the  canons  relating  to 
candidates  for  orders  was  thoroughly  effected.  The 
attendance  of  delegates  from  convocations  in  the 
missionary  jurisdictions  w^as  permitted.  Expres- 
sions of  sympathy  with  the  disestablished  Church 
of  Ireland  were  adopted.  The  new  cycle  com- 
pleting  the  century  in  the  Calendar   was   finally 


270        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTIOX 

ratified.  A  new  standard  Prayer  Book  was 
adopted,  and  tlie  committee  thereon  continued  to 
report  a  table  of  lessons  for  Aveek-days  in  Lent.  A 
new  Indian  jurisdiction  was  established  under  the 
title  "  Niobrara,"  with  the  following  boundaries  : 
On  the  east  by  the  Missouri  river  ;  on  the  south  by 
the  State  of  Nebraska;  on  the  west  by  104th 
meridian,  the  territories  of  Wyoming  and  Nebras- 
ka ;  on  the  north  by  46th  degree  of  north  latitude, 
and  including  the  several  Indian  reservations  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Missouri  river,  north  and  east 
of  the  said  river. 

The  Jubilee  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  Church  was  celebrated  with 
solemn  services.  Bishop  Payne,  of  West- Africa, 
resigned  his  Episcopate,  and  the  effort  to  fill  his 
place  failed  on  account  of  the  unwillingness  of  the 
House  of  Deputies  to  suffer  the  loss  of  the  services 
of  Dr.  William  Hobart  Hare,  who  had  been  nomi- 
nated, as  secretary  of  the  foreign  missionary  work. 
A  standing  committee  on  Indian  affairs  was  ap- 
pointed. The  important  matters  of  the  Italian 
Reform  movement  and  the  intercommunion  with 
the  Eastern  Church  received  due  attention.  Dean 
Howson  addressed  the  House  of  Deputies  with 
reference  to  the  movement  in  Italy  for  the  refor- 
mation of  the  Church,  and  an  able  and  exhaustive 
report  on  the  Eastern  Church  question  appears  in 
the  Appendix.  The  use  by  congregations  of 
foreigners  of  formularies  in  their  vernacular 
tongue,  in  harmony  with  the  doctrine,  discipline, 
and  worship  of    the  Church   was  allowed    at  the 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  271 

discretion  of  each  Diocesan.  The  "  introdnction 
of  any  notation,  punctuation,  or  other  deviation 
from  the  Standard  "  Prayer  Book  was  pronounced 
unlawfuL 

The  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Cliurch 
closed  their  report  as  follows  : 

We  can  not  close  this  report  without  expressing  our  un- 
feig-ned  pleasure  at  the  scene  presented  to  our  eyes  to-day,  the 
Church  never  more  united  during  any  period  of  her  national 
history  than  at  this  hour.  We  have  seen  how  God's  constrain- 
ing grace,  guiding  hand,  and  tender  love  are  stronger  than 
our  douists,  alienations,  and  fears.  We  can  not  but  rejoice  in 
the  fact  that  in  this  great  Triennial  General  Council,  the  strife 
has  been  not,  as  so  many  predicted,  to  destroy  our  goodly 
heritage  and  devour  one  another,  but  to  see  who  can  be  most 
forbearing,  indulgent,  kindly,  and  magnanimous,  and  yet  pre- 
serve his  conscience  pure  and  his  convictions  of  duty  clear, 
his  heart  ready  for  whatever  grace  and  blessing  may  be  vouch- 
safed, and  his  hands  outstretched  for  whatever  work  may  be 
assigned  him.  Let  God's  holy  name  ever  be  praised  for  "  the 
unspeakable  gift"  of  that  "  charity  which  is  the  very  bond  of 
perfectness." 

The  important  questions  of  the  employment  of  an 
order  of  "  Evangelists,"  and  the  organization  of  the 
services  of  Christian  women,  were  discussed  with 
evident  approval.  Memorials  from  the  Dioceses  of 
Texas  and  California,  asking  for  permission  to  elect 
Assistant  Bishops,  on  the  ground  of  extent  of  terri- 
tory, were  received  with  favor,  and  the  relief  de- 
sired allowed. 

The  House  of  Bishops  was  "  solicited  to  take 
such  measures  for  an  early  increase  of  the  number 
of  Chief  Pastors  in  our  missionary  field  as  they  in 
their  judgment  may  deem  wise  and   well,  so  that 


272  THE   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

those  regions  wliicli  are  now  insufficiently  supplied 
may  enjoy  a  due  share  of  Episcopal  oversight." 

The  Presiding  Bisliop  was  directed  by  the  House 
of  Bishops,  on  motion  of  the  Bisliop  of  Xew-York, 
"  to  return  to  the  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bisliop  of 
Winchester  a  courteous  and  brotherly  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  communication  relating  to  a  revision 
of  the  English  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  stating  that 
this  House,  having  had  no  part  in  originating  or  or- 
ganizing the  said  work  of  revision,  is  not  at  present 
in  a  condition  to  deliver  any  judgment  respecting 
it,  and  at  the  same  time  expressing  the  disposition 
of  this  House  to  consider  with  candor  the  work  un- 
dertaken by  the  Convocation  of  Canterbury,  when- 
ever it  shall  have  been  completed,  and  its  results 
laid  before  thein." 

On  motion  of  the  Bishop  of  Albany,  it  was  or- 
dered that  the  following  minute  be  entered  on  the 
Journals  of  the  House  of  Bishops : 

We,  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  having  our  attention  called  to  the 
published  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Alt-Catholic  Con- 
gress, recently  assembled  in  Munich,  put  on  record  the  expres- 
sion of  our  earnest  sympathy  with  the  heroic  struggle  for  re- 
ligious liberty  now  making  by  the  members  of  that  Congress  ; 
and  of  our  anxious  hope  and  fervent  prayers  that  God  may 
give  them  counsel  and  might  to  maintain  and  carry  out  the  de- 
termination to  reject  all  dogmas  set  up  under  any  Pope,  in  con- 
tradiction to  the  teaching  of  the  primitive  Church,  and  to  hold 
fast  to  the  old  Catholic  faith,  as  it  was  by  the  Apostles  deli- 
vered to  the  Saints. 

The  Bishops  referred  the  question  of  the  expedi- 
ency of  introducing  the  Provincial  System  to  the 
next  Convention. 


OF  THE   AMERICAN    CIlL'liCII.  273 

An  elaborate  communication  from  tlie  Rev.  Pre- 
sident Barnard,  of  Columbia  College,  on  the  Pas- 
chal Cycle,  is  printed  in  the  Appendix. 

A  new  Canon,  "  Of  the  Board  of  Missions,"  and 
another,  as  to  the  time  when  new  Canons  take  ef- 
fect, were  adopted,  and  numerous  changes  were 
made  in  the  other  Canons. 

The  number  of  clergy  reported  was  two  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventy  six. 

The  record  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Convention, 
with  the  necessary  appendices  and  the  amended 
Canons,  makes  a  closely  printed  volume  of  seven 
hundred  and  eighty  pages ;  the  very  size  affording, 
by  contrast  with  the  single  "  Broadside"  proceed- 
ings of  the  preliminary  gathering  in  1784,  a  marked 
evidence  of  the  growth  and  present  strength  of 
the  American  Church. 


274        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE   COI^YENTION  OF   1874. 

The  Convention  of  1874  met  on  the  7tli  of  Octo- 
ber in  St.  John's  Chapel,  of  Tnnity  Parish,  in  the 
citj  of  New  York.  The  presence  of  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  Lichfield,  whose  attendance  npon  the 
preceding  Convention  had  been  so  fruitful  in  happy 
results,  together  with  the  Metropolitan  of  Canada, 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  Quebec,  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
Kingston,  and  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Tozer,  late  Mis- 
sionary Bishop  of  Zanzibar,  Central  Africa,  gave 
added  dignity  to  a  gathering  of  Bishops,  Clergy, 
and  Laity  such  as  had  never  assembled  in  Conven- 
tion before.  The  session  of  the  Convention  ex- 
tended until  the  3d  of  November,  twenty-four  work- 
ing days,  eight  of  vdiich  were  spent  in  secret  ses- 
sion. There  were  forty-three  Bishops,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  clerical  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  lay  deputies  in  attendance,  besides 
four  clerical  and  two  lay  delegates  from  the  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions.  One  member-elect  was  raised 
to  the  Episcopate  during  the  session,  and  during  the 
recess  of  Convention  seven  of  its  members  have 
been  consecrated,  while  three  otliers  liave  received 
the  honor  of  an  election  to  the  ljisho])ric,  which  has 
not  been  consummated.  The  preacher  Avas  the  Lord 
Bishop  of  Lichlield,  who  filled  the  place  of  the 
Bishop  of   Mississippi   at  the    solicitation   of   that 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  276 

venerable  prelate.  The  following  extract  from  this 
admirable  discom'se  will  give  the  keynote  of  the 
whole,  and  indicate  a  leading  object  of  the  presence 
of  Bishop  Selwyn  at  this  session  of  Convention. 

The  true  office,  then,  of  the  Synods  and  Conventions  of  the 
Church  is  to  pray  for  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  enable 
them  to  search  the  deep  things  of  God.  We  have  the  Holy 
Bible  in  our  hands ;  each  one  of  us  is  free  to  read ;  free  to 
seek  the  promised  blessing,  that  they  who  search  the  Scrip- 
tures shall  find  ;  but  still  the  fact  remains,  that  whether  it  be 
from  prejudice,  or  self-deceit,  or  defect  of  prayer,  the  readers 
of  the  same  Word  differ  in  opinion  widely  one  from  another. 
Can  all  be  right ;  or,  according  to  the  current  phrase,  shall  all 
agree  to  differ  ?  Oh  !  no.  It  is  truth  that  we  seek.  To 
acquiesce  in  error  is  to  give  up  the  search  after  truth.  God  has 
set  His  bow  in  the  cloud  to  teach  us  that  the  refracted  rays  of 
many  colors  must  be  made  to  converge  again.  Men  of  narrow 
opinions  and  partial  views  must  blend  together  in  one  those 
partial  glimpses  of  the  truth  which  each  has  mistaken  for  the 
whole.  When  party  spirit,  like  the  dark  cloud,  shall  have 
passed  away,  and  with  it  the  many-colored  rays  of  religious 
opinions,  then  will  truth  of  doctrine  shine  forth,  like  the  face 
of  our  transfigured  Lord,  shining  as  the  sun,  and  like  His  rai- 
ment white  as  the  light. 

That  focus  of  the  scattered  rays  of  light  has  ever  been  in 
the  Holy  Synods  of  the  Church.  How  glorious  were  those 
days  in  which  the  Holy  Ghost  poured  down  the  spirit  of  coun- 
sel upon  an  undivided  Christendom  !  Think  what  we,  as 
descended  from  Gentile  forefathers,  owe  to  the  Apostles, 
Elders,  and  brethren  for  that  decree,  which  seemed  good  to 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  to  them :  "  Then  hath  God  also  to  the 
Gentiles  granted  repentance  unto  life. "  In  consequence  of  that 
decree  we  have  been  brought  out  of  darkness  and  error  to 
the  clear  light  and  true  knowledge  of  God  and  of  His  Son 
Jesus  Christ. 

Think  again  what  we  owe  to  the  Council  of  Nicaea,  where  all 
the  diverging  questions,  *'  What  think  ye  of  Christ  ?"  were 
gathered  into  one  by  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Ghost  speaking 


270        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION. 

through  the  Bishops  of  the  Universal  Church  :  "  We  believe  in 
one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  God  of  God.  Light  of  Light." 

Was  the  Spirit  lost  when  the  Churches  of  the  East  and 
West  were  rent  asunder  ?  Oh  !  no.  The  Lord  has  said  that 
"He  will  be  with  His  Church  alway."  True  it  is  that  a  di- 
vided Christendom  cannot  pray  for  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
with  the  same  full  assurance  as  if  every  prayer  went  up  to 
heaven  from  a  multitude  of  believers  still  of  one  heart  and  one 
Boul.  But  the  privilege  which  belongs  to  united  prayers  may 
still  be  exercised  by  a  Church  like  ours,  which  it  has  pleased 
God  to  extend  far  and  wide  over  the  face  of  the  earth  and 
among  the  islands  of  the  sea.  Her  prayers  never  cease  day 
or  night.  Her  bishoprics  are  one  hundred  and  sixty.  I  will 
not  say  that  a  Church  like  ours  can  decide  questions  of  doc 
trine  with  full  authority  like  that  of  the  undivided  Church  ; 
but  until  the  time  shall  come,  in  the  counsels  of  God,  for  that 
reunion  of  Christendom  for  which  we  devoutly  pray,  the  pray- 
ers of  such  a  branch  of  the  Church  as  ours  cannot  fail  to  pro- 
cure for  us  a  large  measure  of  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  if  only 
we  agree  together  as  to  what  we  shall  ask  of  the  Father.  The 
same  desire  for  unity  which  brings  you  together  in  your  Gen- 
eral Convention  will  much  more  lead  us  to  look  forward  to  an- 
other meeting  of  the  Lambeth  Conference,  to  seek  more  care- 
fully for  the  mind  of  .Jesus,  and  to  pray  more  earnestly  for  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  heal  the  divisions  of  our  Church. 

"  Let  us,  therefore,  as  many  as  be  perfect,  be  thus  minded ; 
and  if  in  any  thing  ye  be  otherwise  minded,  God  shall  reveal 
even  this  unto  you.  Nevertheless,  whereto  we  have  already 
attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same  rule,  let  us  mind  the  same 
thing-." 


The  organization  of  the  two  Houses  was  effected 
at  the  close  of  the  impressive  opening  services,  the 
Et.  Eev.  Dr.  Bosworth  Smith  presiding  in  the 
House  of  Bishops  with  the  Eev.  Dr.  Potter  as  Sec- 
retary, and  the  Eev.  Drs.  Craik  and  Perry  being 
unanimously  re-elected  to  their  respective  positions 


OF  THE  AMERICAN    CHURCH.  277 

as  President  and  Secretary  of  the  House  of 
Deputies. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  session  the  testimonials 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Welles,  Bishop-elect  of  Wisconsin, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Seymour,  Bishop-elect  of  Illinois, 
vrere  presented  and  referred.  About  the  latter  issue 
arose  the  great  controversy  of  the  Convention. 
Going  into  secret  session  on  the  seventh  day,  this 
question  occupied  the  attention  of  the  House  until 
the  fourteenth  day,  when,  after  a  discussion  rarely 
if  ever  exceeded  in  interest  or  in  the  admirable  tem- 
per in  which  it  was  conducted,  the  vote  w^as  reached 
as  follows : 

In  favor  of  the  confirmation  of  the  Bishop-elect 
of  Illinois :  of  the  Clergy  there  were  41  Dioceses 
represented,  of  which  there  were  ayes  19 — Albany, 
California,  Central  Xew  York,  Easton,  Georgia, 
Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  Long  Island,  Maine,  Michi- 
gan, Minnesota,  Mississij^pi,  Missouri,  New  Hamp- 
shire, New  York,Yermont,  Western  New  York,  Wis- 
consin, The  nays  were  10 — Connecticut,  Delaware, 
Florida,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Maryland, 
Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Yirginia.  Divided,  12 — Alaba- 
ma, Arkansas,  Central  Pennsylvania,  Massachusetts, 
Nebraska,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  Pittsburgh, 
Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas. 

Of  the  Laity  there  were  40  Dioceses  represented. 
Ayes,  13  —  Alabama,  Albany,  Illinois,  Maine, 
Maryland,  Michigan,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  Nebraska, 
New  Jersey,  New  York,  North  Carolina,  Vermont. 
Nays,  18 — California,  Delaware,  Florida,  Georgia, 
Indiana,   Iowa,   Kansas,    Kentucky,   Long    Island, 


278        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Minnesota,  New  Hampshire,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania, 
Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Western 
New  York,  Wisconsin.  Divided,  9 — Central  New 
York,  Central  Pennsylvania,  Connecticut,  Easton, 
Louisiana,  Massachusetts,  Pittsburgh,  Tennessee, 
Texas. 

The  question  turning  to  a  great  extent  on  the 
supposed  doctrinal  ^^ews  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Seymour, 
the  following  statements,  over  his  signature,  were 
presented  during  the  debate,  and  are  of  sufficient 
importance  to  be  reproduced  on  these  pages. 

Question. — Is  it  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  this 
Church  to  teach,  either  by  word  or  act,  the  adoration  of  our 
Blessed  Lord  under  the  form  of  bread  and  wiue  in  the  Eucha- 
rist ? 

Ansicer. — I  hold,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the 
Church  of  England,  "  that  no  adoratiou  is  intended  or  ought  to 
be  done  either  unto  the  Sacramental  Bread  or  Wine  there  bodily 
received,  or  unto  any  corporal  presence  of  Christ's  natural 
Flesh  and  Blood.  For  the  Sacramental  Bread  and  Wine  re- 
main still  in  their  very  natural  substances,  and  therefore  may 
not  be  adored  (for  that  were  idolatry  to  be  abhorred  of  all 
faithful  Christians) ;  and  the  natural  Body  and  Blood  of  our 
Saviour  Christ  are  in  heaven,  and  not  here,  it  being  against 
the  truth  of  Christ's  natural  Body  to  be  at  one  time  in  more 
places  than  one."  I  hold,  also,  in  accordance  with  our  Twenty- 
eighth  Article,  that  "  the  Body  of  Christ  is  given,  taken,  and 
eaten  in  the  Supper  only  after  an  heavenly  and  spiritual  man- 
ner, and  the  mean  whereby  the  Body  of  Christ  is  received  is 
Faith."  I  hold,  also,  with  the  same  Article,  that  "  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  not  by  Christ's  ordinance  re- 
served, carried  about,  lifted  up,  or  worshipped." 

George  F.  Seymour. 

October  21,  1874. 

Question. — Is  attendance  on  the  Sacrament  for  the  purpose 
of  assisting  in  the  sacrifico  without  the  reception  of  the  ele- 


OF  THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  279 

ments  consonant  with  the  spirit  of  our  offices  and  articles — in 
other  words,  the  offices  and  articles  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  ? 

Answer.— Sack  attendance,  wiili  such  a  purpose,  ought,  in 
my  judgment,  to  be  discouraged  as  not  in  any  way  recognized 
by  our  offices  and  articles  ;  that  is,  the  offices  and  articles  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

George  F.  Seymour. 

October  21, 1874. 

Question.— Does  the  habit  of  private  or  Sacramental  Confes- 
sion, so-called,  foster  as  a  means  of  grace  a  higher  type  of 
holiness  than  the  disuse  of  such  confession,  except  in  the  way 
and  for  the  purposes  indicated  in  the  warning  appointed  to  be 
read  before  the  Holy  Communion  ? 

Answer.  —I  have  never  taught,  encouraged,  or  practised  the 
habit  of  private  or  Sacramental  Confession,  and  I  have  never 
seen  the  fruits  of  such  a  practice  in  others,  and  hence  I  am  not 
able  to  say  what  such  fruits  would  be.  I  only  know  of  Con- 
fession as  it  is  taught  and  allowed  by  the  standards  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  sanctioned  by  the  Bishops  in 
their  Pastoral  of  1871. 

George  F.  Seymour. 

October  21,  1874. 

Question. — Did  you,  or  do  you  ever,  when  present  at  the 
Holy  Communion,  practise  bowings,  crossings,  kneelings,  gen- 
uflexions, or  any  bodily  act  intending  thereby  to  express  any 
adoration  of  the  Sacrament  ? 

Answer. — I  have  never  on  any  occasion  done  so  ;  nor  could 
T  possibly  do  so,  since  I  do  not  wish,  nor  have  I  ever  at  any 
time  desired,  to  pay  such  adoration.  Such  adoration  would  be 
contrary  to  my  convictions  ;  it  would  be  an  awful  impiety. 

George  F.  Seymour. 

October  21, 1874. 

Shortly  before  the  vote  was  taken,  the  following 
letter  was  read  by  the  Secretary  to  the  House.  The 
request  it  contained  was  not  granted. 


280        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

To  THE    OlERICAI*    AND     LaY     DEPUTIES    OP    THE  GENERAL 

Convention. 
Reverend  Brethren  and  Brethren  of  the  Laity  : 

The  unprecedented  course  which  has  been  adopted  and  pur- 
sued by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  reference  to 
the  question  of  my  Confirmation  to  the  Episcopate  justifies  me,  I 
venture  to  submit,  in  addressing  this  note  to  your  Reverend 
and  Honorable  Body,  to  crave  the  privilege  of  being  allowed  to 
be  present  on  the  floor  of  your  House  to  answer  for  myself  the 
charges  which  may  be  made  against  me  as  to  any  thing  that  I 
have  ever  said  or  done. 

Vague  rumors  reach  me  of  serious  accusations,  which,  so  far 
as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  the  drift  of  them,  are  without 
exception  founded  on  mistake,  and  are  easily  corrected  and  re- 
futed. But  in  most  points  they  touch  upon  things  fully  known 
only  to  myself  or  two  others  who  are  not  members  of  your 
House,  so  that  no  explanations  sent  through  third  persons  can 
be  entirely  satisfactory  to  you  or  just  to  me. 

I  can  truly  say  from  my  heart  that  1  never  sought  or  desired 
the  Episcopal  office.  My  present  painful  position,  as  a  Bishop- 
elect,  is  one  into  which  I  was  suddenly  forced  by  circumstances 
over  which  I  had  no  control.  Gladly  would  I,  had  I  the 
power,  replace  myself  where  I  was  when  the  Diocese  of  Hlinois 
elected  me,  but  this  I  cannot  do  at  this  stage  of  the  proceedings. 

For  nineteen  years  and  more  I  have  served  the  Church  as 
Deacon  and  Presbyter,  and  I  leave  it  to  my  Bishop,  and  my 
brethren  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  who  have  known  me  from  the 
first,  to  tell  how  I  have  lived  and  how  I  have  labored.  But  I 
will  say  for  myself  that  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  has 
never  had  a  more  loyal  son  than  she  has  in  me.  I  will  say 
for  myself,  and  all  who  know  me  will  bear  me  witness  that  it 
is  true,  that  there  is  nothing  which  is  further  from  my  nature 
than  concealment  or  evasion. 

The  question  with  me  is  not  whether  I  am  to  be  made  a 
Bishop  or  no.     My  anxiety  is  altogether  for  my  life  and  use- 
fulness as  a  clergyman,  and  my  character  as  a  man. 
With  great  respect. 

Very  faithfully  and  truly  yours, 

George  F.  Seymour. 
General  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York,  Oct.  22, 1874. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  281 

Certain  questions  of  fact  growing  ont  of  this  pain- 
fully interesting  and  absorbing  discussion,  and  giv- 
ing rise  to  subsequent  criminations  and  recrimina- 
tions, need  not  be  considered  here.  The  result  of 
the  week's  debate,  so  far  as  the  charge  of  sympathy 
with  Ritualism  urged  against  Dr.  Seymour,  may  be 
given  in  the  words  of  the  late  Eev.  Dr.  Andrews 
— himself  an  earnest  and  acute  participant  in  the 
discussion — as  follows :  ''  The  candidate,  however, 
sustained  no  loss  by  the  scrutiny,  since  the  convic- 
tion of  his  being  a  Ritualist  was  at  least  not  so  gen- 
eral after  the  inquiry  as  it  was  before.""^ 

The  discussion  of  the  question  of  '^  Ritual "  re- 
sulted in  the  adoption — by  a  clerical  vote  of  38  ayes, 
2  nays,  1  divided,  and  a  lay  vote  of  28  ayes,  1  nay, 
and  2  divided — of  the  following  : 

Section,  to  be  numbered  ^  II.,  added  to  Canon  20  (renum- 
bered Canon  22)  of  Title  I. ,  to  wit : 

§  II.  [1.]  If  any  Bishop  have  reason  to  believe,  or  if  com- 
plaint be  made  to  him  in  writing  by  two  or  more  of  his  Pres- 
byters, that  within  his  jurisdiction  ceremonies  or  practices  not 
ordained  or  authorized  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and 
setting  forth  or  symbolizing  erroneous  or  doubtful  doctrines, 
have  been  introduced  by  any  minister  during  the  celebration 
of  the  Holy  Communion  (such  as, 

a.  The  elevation  of  the  Elements  in  the  Holy  Communion  in 
such  manner  as  to  expose  them  to  the  view  of  the  people  as 
objects  towards  which  adoration  is  to  be  made. 

h.  Any  act  of  adoration  of  or  towards  the  Elements  in  the 
Holy  Communion,  such  as  bowings,  prostrations,  or  genuflex- 
ions ;  and 

c.  All  other  like  acts  not  authorized  by  the  Rubrics  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer  :) 

*  Church  Review,  xxvii.  36. 


282         THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION" 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  Biriiiop  to  summou  the  StandiDg 
Committee  as  his  Council  of  Advice,  and  with  them  to  investi- 
gate the  matter. 

[2.]  If,  after  investigation,  it  shall  appear  to  the  Bishop  and 
Standing  Committee  that  ceremonies  or  practices  not  ordained 
or  authorized  as  aforesaid,  and  setting  forth  or  symbolizing 
erroneous  or  doubtful  doctrines,  have  in  fact  been  introduced 
as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop,  by  instru- 
ment of  writing  uiider  his  hand,  to  admonish  the  minister  so 
offending  to  discontinue  such  practices  or  ceremonies  ;  and  if 
the  minister  shall  disregard  such  admonition,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  cause  him  to  be  tried  for  a 
breach  of  his  ordination  vow. 

Provided,  That  nothing  herein  contained  shall  prevent  the 
presentment,  trial,  and  punishment  of  any  minister  under  the 
provisions  of  ^  1,  Canon  2,  Title  II.  of  the  Digest. 

[8.]  In  all  investigations  under  the  provisions  of  this  Canon, 
the  minister  whose  acts  or  practices  are  the  subject  matter  of 
the  investigation,  shall  be  notified,  and  have  opportunity  to  be 
heard  in  his  defence.  The  charges  preferred,  and  the  findings 
of  the  Bishop  and  Standing  (-ommittee,  shall  be  in  writing, 
and  a  record  shall  be  kept  of  the  proceedings  in  the  case. 

Tlie  action  of  the  General  Convention  of  1853,* 
giving  an  interpretation  to  the  meaning  of  the  con- 
stitutional "  three  days  "  within  which  the  House 
of  Bishops  are  required  to  return  a  negative,  with 
their  reasons,  to  render  inoperative  action  of  the 
House  of  Deputies,  was  practically  reversed  by  the 
following  recommendation  of  the  Committee  on 
Amendment  to  the  Constitution,  which  view,  after 
discussion,  was  finally  adopted  by  the  Convention. 

The  amendment  in  question  relates  to  the  setting  apart  by 
the  General  Convention  of  a  portion  of  the  territory  of  any 


*  Ante,  pp.  194,  195.     Query,  Does  not  Canon  VII.  of  1850 
by  this  ruling  become  void  ? 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  283 

organized  Diocese  too  large  for  the  Episcopal  ^supervision  of 
tiie  Bishop  thereof,  with  the  consent  of  such  Bishop  and  of 
the  Diocesan  Convention,  and  the  placing  of  such  portion 
under  Missionary  Jurisdiction. 

It  was  passed  by  the  House  of  Delegates  on  the  25th  of 
October,  1871,  and  was  sent  to  the  House  of  Bishops  for  their 
concurrence.  On  tlie  following  day  (October  26th)  the  House 
of  Delegates  finally  adjourned,  and  on  the  next  day  (October 
27th)  the  House  of  Bishops  also  adjourned,  without  having 
taken  any  action  on  the  proposed  amendment. 

In  Article  3  of  the  Constitution  it  is  provided  that  the  acts 
of  the  House  of  Delegates  shall  have  the  operation  of  laws, 
unless  the  House  of  Bishops  shall,  within  three  days  after  a 
proposed  act  shall  have  been  reported  to  them  for  concurrence, 
signify  to  the  Convention  their  approbation  or  disapprobation. 
.  The  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  no  act  of  this  House  can 
take  effect  as  an  act  of  the  Convention  by  the  failure  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  to  concur  or  non-concur  within  the  specified 
time,  unless  this  House  shall  continue  its  session  during  the 
whole  of  that  time,  and  that  by  an  earlier  final  adjournment 
all  acts  of  legislation  not  completed  by  the  concurrence  of  both 
Houses  fall  to  the  ground. 

The  Amendment  proposed  to  Article  4,  omitting 
at  its  close  the  words  "  by  any  Church  destitute  of 
a  Bishop,"  and  substituting  the  words  "  in  another 
Diocese  by  the  ecclesiastical  authority  thereof,"  was 
adopted.  The  following  proposed  changes  in  the 
Constitution  were  adopted  by  concurrent  action  of 
both  Houses,  and  will  be  finally  acted  upon  at  the 
General  Convention  of  1877,  to  wit : 

I.  ResoUed,  That  it  be  recommended  and  proposed  that  the 
following  alteration  be  made  in  Article  5  of  the  Constitution, 
to  wit :  Insert  at  the  end  of  the  Article  the  words  : 

"  The  General  Convention  may,  upon  the  application  of  the 
Bishop  and  Convention  of  an  organized  diocese,  setting  forth 
that  the  territory  of  the  Diocese  is  too  large  for  due  episcopal 


284        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

tupervision  by  the  Bishop  of  such  Diocese,  set  off  a  portion  of 
such  Diocesan  territory,  which  shall  thereupon  be  placed 
within,  or  constitute,  a  Missionary  Jurisdiction,  as  the  House 
of  Bishops  may  determine." 

II.  Me  solved,  ThsLi  the  following  be  proposed  and  made  known 
to  the  several  Dioceses  as  an  amendment  to  Article  8  of  the 
Constitution,  to  be  added  at  the  end  of  the  Article  as  it  now 
stands,  to  wit,  the  words  : 

"  Provided,  That  the  General  Convention  may  by  Canon 
arrange  and  set  forth  a  shortened  form  of  Morning  and  Evening 
Prayer,  to  be  compiled  wholly  from  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer." 

III.  Resolved,  That  the  following  be  proposed  as  an  amend- 
ment, by  way  of  addition,  to  the  8th  Article  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, to  wit : 

"  Provided,  hoi,ceve7\  That  the  General  Convention  shall  havo 
power,  from  time  to  time,  to  amend  the  Lectionary  ;  but  no 
act  for  this  purpose  shall  be  valid  which  is  not  voted  for  by  a 
majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Bishops  entitled  to  seats  in 
the  House  of  Bishops,  and  by  a  majority  of  all  the  Dioceses 
entitled  to  representation  in  the  House  of  Deputies." 

The  presence  of  the  Metropolitan  of  Canada,  with 
a  deputation  bearing  an  address  from  the  Provincial 
Sjnod,  was  made  the  occasion  of  important  confer- 
ences, resulting  in  the  adoption  of  resolutions  attest- 
ing practically,  as  well  as  in  words,  the  intercom- 
munion of  the  American  and  Canadian  Churches. 
The  recommendation  of  a  mutual  requirement  of 
Letters  Dimissory  in  the  case  of  clergymen  remov- 
ing from  one  church  to  the  other,  and  the  giving  to 
the  laity  letters  of  introduction  and  commendation 
under  similar  circmnstances,  was  agreed  upon.  The 
Joint  Committee  having  in  charge  the  matter  of 
relations  with  the  Church  in  Canada  was  continued. 
Graceful  recognition  was  made  of  the  eminent  ser- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  2S5 

vices  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Haight,  providentially  prevent- 
ed from  attendance  upon  the  Convention.  Provision 
was  made  for  the  better  organization  of  the  House, 
and  for  the  election  of  a  Vice-President.  The  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer  were  made  ex-officio  members  of 
the  House,  with  the  right  to  speak  on  matters  per- 
taining to  their  respective  offices  even  if  not  returned 
as  Deputies.  The  consideration  of  the  Provincial 
System  was,  after  discussion,  indelinitely  postponed. 
The  cumbersome  title  of  the  Lower  House  was 
shortened  by  the  omission  of  the  words  "  Clerical 
and  Lay." 

It  was  pronounced  inexpedient  to  provide  a  Court 
of  Appeals,  or  to  institute  a  Constitutional  Commis- 
sion, as  proposed  by  the  far-seeing  Bishop  of  West- 
ern New  York,  though  both  of  these  important 
measures  received  the  approval  of  the  Upper  House, 
and  must  eventually  be  approved. 

The  Joint  Committee  on  the  Republication  of 
the  Early  Journals,  dating  its  first  appointment 
back  to  the  Convention  of  1859,  and  charged  with 
a  duty  which  for  many  years  had  occupied  the  atten- 
tion of  the  General  Convention,  reported  that  the 
objects  of  their  appointment  had  been  accomplished 
so  far  as  the  republication  of  the  journals  of  the  Con- 
vention from  1Y85-1835,  inclusive,  were  concerned. 
The  Committee  added,  as  a  simple  matter  of  justice, 
that  the  editorial  labor  in  the  preparation  of  this  re- 
print, extending  over  a  period  of  twelve  years,  had 
been  performed  without  cost  to  the  Convention  or  the 
Church,  and  that  by  the  addition  of  a  volume  of  his- 
torical papers  prepare^    from  the    MSS.    in    the 


286        THE  GENERML  CONVENTION 

Archives  of  the  Church  by  the  Historiographer, 
whicli  tlie  pubhshers  regarded  as  ensin-ing  the  sale 
of  the  reprint,  the  plates  of  the  reprinted  journals 
would  become  the  property  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion, and  give  for  the  future  the  means  for  the  re- 
issue of  the  whole  series  of  the  Journals  of  Conven- 
tion when  desirable.  Both  Houses  expressed  their 
satisfaction  at  the  successful  completion  of  this  im- 
portant work.  The  question  of  a  revision  of  the 
Nicene  Creed  was  postponed,  with  the  expression 
of  an  opinion,  on  the  part  of  the  House  of  Deputies, 
that  this  Church  ought  not  to  enter  upon  any  con- 
sideration of  the  proposition  until  it  can  be  done 
in  some  united  Council  of  all  those  autonomous 
Churches  using  the  English  rite,  and  in  communion 
with  this  Church  and  the  Church  of  England.  In 
the  House  of  Bishops  the  judgment  of  the  Com- 
mittee to  which  this  subject  was  referred,  was  that 
"  a  matter  so  seriously  affecting  the  Great  Confes- 
sion of  our  Faith  should  not  be  practically  entered 
upon  without  preliminary  conferences  with  other 
Churches,  and  especially  those  with  which  we  are 
in  visible  union  and  communion."  After  much  dis- 
cussion, the  linal  action  on  the  Hymnal,  a  revision 
of  which  was  presented  at  this  session,  was  a  concur- 
rent resolution 


That  the  Trustees,  authorized  by  a  former  joint  resolution 
oi  the  two  Houses  of  the  General  Convention  to  superintend 
the  revision  and  publication  of  the  Remsed  Hymnal,  with 
power  to  make  the  typographical  and  other  changes  necessary 
to  conform  it  to  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Hymnal, 
be  instructed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties : 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  287 

1st.  To  make  all  necessary  corrections  of  clerical  or  typo- 
graphical errors  or  mistakes  in  punctuation  in  the  text  of  the 
Hymnal  as  revised,  and  authorized  by  the  General  Convention 
at  its  present  session. 

2d.  To  substitute  for  the  word  "  Jesu"  the  wi^rd  "  Jesus," 
wherever  it  occurs. 

3d.  To  make  the  following  corrections  in  the  printed  slip 
distributed  to  the  Convention  and  headed  Changes  in  the 
Hymnal,  and  reported  by  the  Joint  Committee  ; 

{a)  Hymn  315  to  be  printed  as  in  the  "  Hymnal,"  instead  of 
as  in  the  "  Prayer  Book," 

ih)  Hymn  378  to  remain  as  in  the  Revised  Hymnal,  being  No. 
63  of  the  Prayer  Book. 

(c)  Hymn  393.  Substitute  for  this  the  Hymnal  version. 
At  the  end  of  the  Hymns  add  the  "  Prayer  Book  "  version, 
as  Hymn  532. 

4th.  To  make  the  following  alterations,  so  that  as  to  the 
Hymns  named,  the  Revised  Hymnal  may  correspond  with  the 
Standard  Edition  of  the  Hymnal. 

{a)  Hymn  219,  verse  3d,  line  4th,  substitute  "  might  well  " 
for  "  would  then." 

(&)  Hymn  405,  v,  2d,  line  1,  substitute  ''  Know  that  the  Lord  " 
for  "  the  Lord  ye  know." 

(c)  Hymn  483,  v.  3d,  line  3d,  substitute  "  far-seeing"  for 
"  foreseeing," 

{d)  Hymn  496,  insert  4th  verse  from  Bickersteth,  and  omit 
5th  verse,  as  now  printed. 

(e)  Hymn  502,  v.  2,  line  4,  substitute  the  word  "  Sovereign" 
for  the  word  "  gracious." 

5th.  To  make  the  corrections  as  proposed  by  the  Hymnal 
Committee,  and  as  set  forth  in  the  printed  sheet  subniitt(  d  to 
the  Convention  and  headed  "  Corrections." 

6th.  To  allow  no  hymn  to  be  added  to  those  now  in  the  Re- 
vised Hymnal,  and  none  to  be  omitted  therefrom,  but  such  as 
are  authorized  by  this  resolution. 

The  question  of  shortened  services  was  remanded 
to  the  consideration  of  the  next  Convention,  it  being 
judged  that  this  matter  could  only  be  reached  by 


288        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

constitutional  amendment ;  but  the  following  action, 
which  was  adopted  without  debate,  while  a  proposal 
accompanying  it  in  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on 
Canons  to  appoint  a  Commission  on  Rubrical  Revi- 
sion failed  of  success,  should  not  be  overlooked. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  tlie  sense  of  this  Convention  that  nothing 
in  the  present  order  of  Common  Prayer  prohibits  the  separa- 
tion, when  desirable,  of  the  Morning  Prayer,  the  Litany,  and 
the  Order  for  the  Administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  into 
distinct  services,  which  may  be  used  independently  of  each 
other,  and  either  of  them  without  the  others  :  Provided,  that 
when  used  together,  they  be  used  in  the  same  order  as  that  in 
which  they  have  commonly  been  used,  and  in  which  they  stand 
in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 

In  the  House  of  Bishops,  on  motion  of  the  Bishop 
of  Albany,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  this  House  concurs  in  the  Message  from  the 
House  of  Deputies,  in  relation  to  using  the  services  separately. 

A  modified  approval  of  the  proposed  Lambeth 
Conference  was  adopted  after  an  earnest  defence  of 
the  autonomy  of  the  American  Church  and  the  firm 
expression  of  an  unwillingness  to  surrender  in  any 
way  its  independence  of  foreign  control.  The 
action,  as  finally  shaped,  was  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  all  exchange  of  friendly  greetings ;  all  evi- 
dences of  the  existence  of  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond 
of  peace  between  the  Church  of  England  and  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America,  whether  by  Bishops  in  confer- 
ence or  otherwise,  are  especially  welcome  to  the  Church. 

In  this  resolution  the  House  of  Bishops  concurred. 
An  important  report  of  the  Committee  having  in 


OF  THE  AMERICAN-  CHURCH.  289 

charge  the  preparation  of  a  German  version  of  the 
Prayer  Book  deserves  a  place  in  our  record.  It  is 
as  follows : 

The  wliole  Prayer  Book  and  the  appended  offices,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Institution  Office,  have  been  rendered  into 
the  German  language,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  this  trans- 
lation has  been  printed  in  order  to  subject  it  to  criticism  and 
to  the  practical  test  of  actual  use  in  public  services.  By  the 
liberality  of  a  member  of  Grace  Church,  New  York,  we  have 
printed  the  offices  for  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  the  Com- 
munion Office,  etc.,  as  a  book  for  Missionary  service,  and  it  has 
been  tried  in  several  places  by  the  authority  of  the  Ordinary. 
It  is  on  sale,  and  can  be  obtained  at  a  very  moderate  price. 
Other  offices  have  been  printed  in  the  KirchenUatt,  and  in  that 
form  have  been  revised  by  competent  critics. 

The  scholar  to  whom  this  very  important  and  delicate  task 
has  been  committed,  the  Rev.  G.  F.  Siegmund,  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  educated  in  her  Universities,  and  remarkably  quali- 
fied by  nature  and  by  previous  studies,  and  as  well,  we  trust, 
by  Divine  Grace,  for  the  work.  He  is  a  Deacon  of  the  Diocese 
of  Western  New  York,  a  man  of  mature  age,  having  been  a 
Lutheran  Pastor  for  many  years  before  his  admission  to  our 
communion.  The  general  rules  under  which  he  has  labored 
with  great  enthusiasm,  and  wholly  without  any  other  reward 
than  his  interest  in  the  Church  and  his  love  of  his  Master,  are 
as  follows  : 

1.  Whatever  in  our  Anglican  Prayer  Book  is  borrowed  from 
the  ancient  liturgies  should  be  translated  directly  from  the 
Greek  and  Latin,  and  not  from  the  English. 

2.  Whatever  can  be  found  in  the  old  German  Agendas 
translaxed  from  the  ancient  liturgies  in  the  liturgical  language 
of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries  should  be  appropri- 
ated. 

3.  Not  only  in  the  lessons  and  psalms,  and  in  the  literal 
quotations  from  the  Bible,  but  even  in  allusions  to  Scriptural 
expressions,  the  German  Prayer  Book  is  to  follow  the  text  of 
Luther's  German  Bible,  which  is  the  only  German  translation 
of  authority  made  from  the  Hebrew  and  Greek. 


290  THE   GE^EKAL   CONVENTION" 

4.  In  translating  tlie  distinctly  Anglican  portions  of  the 
Prayer  Book,  or  such  parts  of  ancient  liturgies  as  are  not  to  be 
found  in  old  German  translations,  the  words  and  idioms  should 
be  taken  from  the  vocabulary  of  the  German  Bible  and  the 
old  German  liturgies. 

5.  To  secure  the  highest  degree  of  verbal  and  idiomatic 
accuracy,  the  work  of  the  translator  should  be  submitted  to 
living  critics  of  high  position  in  Germany,  and  their  sugges- 
tions should  be  very  carefully  considered  and  respected. 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  say  that  such  German  critics  as 
Schoeberlein,  Heusch,  Haubt,  and  others  have  been  consulted. 

They  have  taken  a  generous  interest  in  the  measure,  and 
have  borne  the  most  gratifying  testimony  to  the  beauty  and 
liturgic  spirit  of  the  translation.  They  have  taken  pains  to 
indicate  a  few  desirable  alterations,  and  their  advice  has  been 
followed  to  a  considerable  extent.  As  they  did  not  sufficiently 
allow  for  the  very  strict  fidelity  to  the  originals  required  by 
our  Liturgic  Constitutions,  we  could  not  always  accept  their 
improvements. 

A  proposed  relaxation  of  tlie  Kubrics  in  the 
Offices  for  Infant  Baptism  failed  of  success.  It  wab 
presented  by  the  Committee  on  Canons  of  the  lower 
House,  and  was  as  follows  : 

1.  Resolved  (the  House  of  Bishops  concurring),  That  it  be, 
and  hereby  is,  proposed  to  add  as  a  Rubric  at  the  end  of  the 
Office  for  Infant  Baptism  the  words  following— namely  : 

♦•  The  minister  may,  at  his  discretion,  omit  the  exhortation 
preceding  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  the  above  Office,  and  in  place 
of  the  Thanksgiving  substitute  the  Collect  for  Easter  Even. 
This  Rubric,  however,  is  not  to  be  construed  as  implying 
any  change  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Church." 

2  Resolved  (the  House  of  Bishops  concurring),  That  the 
Secretary  of  the  House  of  Deputies  cause  the  proposed  Rubric 
to  be  made  known  to  the  Dioceses,  as  required  by  the  Consti- 
tution and  Canons. 

A  Lectionary  for  Lent  was  proposed,  and  after 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  291 

consideration  referred  to  the  next  Convention.  The 
Santee  Indian  Reservation  was  transferred  from  the 
Diocese  of  Nebraska  to  the  Missionary  District  of 
Niobrara.  Recognition  was  made  of  the  efficient 
labors  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  R.  Hale,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  furtherance  of  the  work  of  the  Russo- 
Greek  Committee,  and  of  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Langdon,  of  the  Italian  Reform  Commission. 
The  following  Canon  of  Church  Music  was  passed  : 

§  I.  The  Selection  of  the  Psalms  in  metre,  and  Hymns  which 
are  set  forth  by  authority,  and  Anthems  in  the  words  of  Holy 
Scripture,  are  allowed  to  be  sung  in  all  congregations  of  this 
Church  before  and  after  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  and 
also  before  and  after  sermons,  at  the  discretion  of  the  minis- 
ter, whose  duty  it  shall  be,  by  standing  directions,  or  from  time 
to  time,  to  appoint  such  authorized  Psalms,  Hymns,  or  Anthems 
as  are  to  be  sung. 

§  II.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  minister  of  this  Church, 
with  such  assistance  as  he  may  see  fit  to  employ  from  persons 
skilled  in  music,  to  give  order  concerning  the  tunes  to  be  sung 
at  any  time  in  i)i3  church,  and  especially  it  shall  be  his  duty 
to  suppress  all  light  and  unseemly  music,  anl  all  indecency 
and  irreverence  in  the  performance  by  which  vain  and  ungodly 
persons  profane  the  service  of  the  sanctuary. 

Questions  arising  respecting  Suffragan  Bishops, 
the  Increase  of  the  Missionary  Episcopate,  the  Cor- 
respondence with  the  Hierarchy  of  the  Eastern 
Churches,  the  subject  of  Marriage  with  Relatives, 
and  Correspondence  with  the  Bishop  and  Synod 
of  the  Old  Catholics,  were  referred  by  the  Bishops 
to  Committees  to  sit  during  the  recess,  while 
Joint  Committees  were  appointed  on  Ecclesias- 
tical  Relations  and   Religious    Reform;    on   Yer- 


292        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

sions  of  the  Prayer  Book  in  German,  Spanish,  Ital- 
ian, and  French  ;  on  the  Godly  Discipline  of  Com- 
municant Members;  on  the  Force  of  Joint  Resolu- 
tions ;  on  the  Government  of  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary ;  on  the  Canadian  Synod ;  on  a  Lection- 
ary  for  Lent ;  on  a  Canon  "  of  Deaconesses  or 
Sisters."  New  Dioceses  subsequently  designated  as 
those  of  Northern  New  Jersey,  Southern  Ohio, 
AVestem  Michigan,  and  Fond  du  Lac  were  created. 
Missionary  Districts  were  formed,  with  the  titles  of 
Northern  California,  and  Northern  and  Western 
Texas.  The  Missionary  District  of  Arizona  was  sepa- 
rated from  that  of  Nevada  and  united  to  that  of  New 
Mexico,  taken  from  Colorado.  The  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdiction  of  China  and  Japan  was  divided 
into  those  of  Shanghai  and  Yedo.  The  JRev.  Drs. 
Elliott,  Wingfield,  Garrett,  and  Adams  were  elected 
to  the  Domestic  Missionary  Episcopate.  The  Rev. 
W.  P.  Orrick  was  elected  to  the  Missionary  Bishop- 
ric of  Shanghai,  but  declined  the  appointment. 

Under  the  provisions  of  Article  10  of  the  Consti- 
tution, the  Rev.  Dr.  Holly  was  elected  to  the  Epis- 
copate of  Haiti,  and  the  following  "  Concordat " 
entered  into  with  the  Church  in  that  island. 

COVENANT. 

In  the  Name  of  tlie  Most  Holy  and  Undivided  Trinity,  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

The  following  Covenant,  or  Articles  of  Agreement,  Concord, 
and  Union,  between  the  House  of  Bishops  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  of  the  first 
part,  and  the  Convocation  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHURCH.  293 

in  the  Republic  of  Haiti  of  the  second  part,  establishes  the 
ensuing  stipulations  mutually  entered  into  bj  the  two  Churches 
aforesaid. 

Article  1.  The  House  of  Bishops,  aforesaid,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  fact  that  all  the  Clergy,  eleven  in  number,  belong- 
ing to  the  Church  in  Haiti,  own  no  allegiance  to  the  govern- 
ment of  these  United  States,  but  are  Haitien  citizens,  do  hereby 
recognize  the  aforesaid  (Church  in  Haiti  as  of  right  as  also  in 
point  of  fact  a  foreign  Church  to  all  intents  and  purposes  with- 
in the  meaning  of  Article  10  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Protes 
tant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  said  United  States  of  America. 
But  while  the  aforesaid  House  of  Bishops  doth  thus  recognize 
the  Church  in  Haiti  to  be  a  foreign  Church,  yet,  during  its 
early  growth  and  development,  it  shall  continue  to  enjoy  the 
nursing  care  of  the  Church  in  these  United  States  until  the 
Church  in  Haiti  shall  attain  to  competency  for  its  own  sup- 
port, and  to  a  sufficiency  in  its  Episcopate  for  the  adminis- 
tration of  its  own  affairs,  according  to  the  requirements  of 
the  ancient  Canons  and  primitive  usages  cf  the  Church  of 
Christ. 

Art.  2.  The  House  of  Bishops,  acting  under  the  aforesaid 
Article  10  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  availmg  itself  of 
the  concession  made  to  them  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  Republic  of  Haiti  in  the  stipulation  contained  in  Article 
5  following  of  this  Covenant,  will  designate  and  consecrate  to 
the  Office  of  Bishop  one  of  the  Clergymen  of  the  aforesaid 
Church  in  Haiti  (making  selection  of  the  said  person  according 
to  the  best  of  its  godly  judgment  as  to  his  fitness  and  qualifica- 
tions for  such  a  high  and  holy  vocation). 

Art.  8.  The  skid  House  of  Bishops  furthermore  agrees  to 
name  from  among  its  own  members  a  Commission  of  four 
Bishops,  with  whom  the  aforesaid  Bishop  or  Bishops  to  be 
consecrated  for  the  Church  in  Haiti  shall  be  associated.  And 
this  Commission  shall  form  a  temporary  Board  of  Administra- 
tion for  the  Episcopal  Government  of  the  Church  in  Haiti. 
And  as  such  a  majority  of  the  same,  shall  be  competent  to 
take  order  for  the  designation  and  consecration  of  future 
Bishops  in  Haiti,  as  the  necessity  may  arise,  on  the  demand  of 


294  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTION 

the  Convocation  of  the  Church  in  that  Republic.  The  said 
temporary  Board  of  Administration  shall  be  furthermore  em- 
powered to  administer  all  the  discipline  pertaining  to  the  Epis- 
copal order  of  the  Ministry  for  the  Church  in  Haiti  until  at 
least  three  Bishops  shall  be  designated,  consecrated,  and 
canonically  established  in  said  Church.  It  being  understood 
that  this  Commission  of  Bishops  shall  be  governed  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  their  Episcopal  administration,  judgments,  and  acts 
by  the  provisions  contained  in  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  so  far  as  the  same  can  be  applied  to  the  divergent 
circumstances  of  the  Church  in  Haiti. 

Art.  4.  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Haiti  on  its  part 
agrees  always  to  guard  in  all  their  essentials  a  conformity  to 
the  doctrine,  worship,  and  discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  as  the  same  are  set 
forth  in  the  duly  authorized  standards  of  the  said  Church,  and 
that  it  will  not  depart  therefrom  any  further  than  local  circum- 
stances shall  make  it  necessary. 

AiiT.  5.  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Haiti  further 
agrees  to  concede  to  the  House  of  Bishops  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America  the  choice 
of  its  first  Bishop  to  be  consecrated  ;  and  thereafter  to  concede 
the  same  prerogative  to  a  majority  of  the  Commission  of 
Bishops  forming  the  temporary  Board  of  Administration  to 
choose  or  designate  among  the  Haitien  Clergy  future  Bishops 
on  the  demand  of  the  Convocation  in  Haiti.  And  this  prerog- 
ative shall  continue  until  in  the  good  Providence  of  God  three 
Bishops  shall  be  canonically  resident  and  exercising  jurisdic- 
tion in  the  Church  of  Haiti.  Then  this  ])rerogative  shall 
cease  on  the  part  of  the  aforesaid  Commission,  and  all  its 
functions  revert  to  those  three  Bishops  thus  established  in 
Haiti. 

In  testimony  whereof  these  Articles  have  been  signed  in 
duplicate,  on  the  part  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  by  the  Bishops 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  on  the  part  of  the  Convocation 
of  the  Church  in  Haiti,  by  its  Dean,  wlio  has  exhibited  duly 
authenticated  credentials  clothing  him  with  full  power  to  act 
in  this  matter  in  the  name  and  in  the  behalf  of  the  Convoca- 
tion aforesaid. 


OF  THE  AMERICAN  CHURCH.  295 

Done  in  the  City  of  New  York,  on  the  third  day  of  Novem- 
ber, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eeventy-four. 
(Signed)  James  Theodore  Holly, 

Dean,  dc.  [l.  s.] 
William  R.  Whittingham, 

BisJiop  of  Maryland,  [l.  s.] 
Alfred  Lee, 

Bishop  of  Delaware,  [l.  s.] 
Thomas  Atkinson, 

Bishop  of  ISortJi  Carolina,  [l.  s.] 
Horatio  Potter, 

Bishop  of  New  York.  [l.  s.j 
G.  T.  Bedell, 

Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio.  [l.  s.] 
A.  Cleveland  Coxe, 
Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  [l.  s.  ] 
Done  in  my  presence,  and  duplicates  exchanged. 
Attest :  Henry  C.  Potter, 

Secretary  of  the  House  of  BisJiops. 

This  important  action  was  consummated  by  the 
consecration  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Holly  shortly  after  the 
adjournment  of  the  Convention. 

In  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  final  action  with 
reference  to  the  abandomnent  of  the  Church  by  the 
Assistant  Bishop  of  Kentucky  was  as  follows  : 

Whereas,  On  the  10th  day  of  November,  1873,  George 
David  Cummins,  late  Assistant  Bishop  of  tlie  Diocese  of  Ken- 
tucky, did  abandon  the  communion  of  tliis  Churcli  by  a  letter 
addressed  to  the  Senior  Bishop  ;  and 

Whereas,  The  precedent  requirements  by  Canon  8,  Title  II. 
of  the  Digest  having  been  duly  complied  with,  the  Senidr 
Bishop,  acting  under  the  advice  of  persons  learned  in  the  law 
of  the  Church,  with  the  consent  in  writing  of  a  majority  of  the 
Bishops  entitled  to  seats  in  this  House,  did  on  the  24th  day  of 
June,  1874,  depose  said  George  David  Cummins,  late  Assistant 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Kentucky,  from  the  Ministry  of  this 
Church,  and  did  pronounce  and  record  in  the  presence  of  two 


296         THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Bishops  that  the  said  George  David  Cummins  had  been  so  de- 
posed ;  but  a  doubt  has  arisen  whether  the  consent  of  the 
Bishops  eo  given  was  regular,  a  majority  of  the  House  of 
Bishops  being  now  present  and  concurring  ;  it  is  hereby 

Resolved,  That  the  action  of  the  Senior  Bishop  in  deposing 
the  said  George  David  Cummins,  late  Assistant  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  of  Kentucky,  from  the  Ministry  of  this  Church,  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  consented  to,  ratified,  and  confirmed. 

Resolved,  That,  without  waiving  the  effect  of  the  consent 
{nunc  pro  tunc)  declared  in  the  preceding  resolution,  and  in 
order  to  prevent  any  question  being  hereafter  raised  in  respect 
thereto,  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  House  of  Bishops  is 
hereby  given  that  the  said  George  David  Cummins,  late  Assist- 
ant Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Kentucky,  be  deposed  from  the 
Ministry  of  this  Church. 

Resolved,  That  leave  be  given  to  record  upon  the  ofl&cial 
Journal  of  this  House  the  sentence  of  the  Senior  Bishop  de- 
posing from  the  Ministry  of  this  Church  George  David  Cum- 
mins, late  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Kentuckey  which 
sentence,  signed  by  the  Senior  Bishop,  and  attested  by  the 
Bishops  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Be  it  known,  That  I,  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith,  D.D., 
Senior  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  by  virtue  of  my  office,  in  pursuance  of  Canon 
8,  Title  II.  of  the  Digest,  and  with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of 
the  House  of  Bishops,  do  depose  from  the  Ministry  George 
David  Cummins,  late  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Ken- 
tucky. And  I  do  hereby  pronounce  and  record,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Bishops  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  that  the 
said  George  David  Cummins  has  been  so  deposed. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  seventeenth  day  of  October,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
four.  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith,  Senior  Bishop. 
Done  in  our  presence  this  seventeenth  day  of 

October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  seventy-four. 
William  Rollinson  Whittinoham,  Bishop  of  Maryland. 
William  Bacon  Stevens,  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. 

This  action  was  adopted,  7ieni  con. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  297 

The  Presiding  Bishop  thereupon  pronounced  and 
recorded  the  said  sentence  as  follows,  viz. : 

In  General  Conveiitioii  of  tlie  Protestant  Episcopal  Llinrcli. 

HOUSE  OF  BISHOPS. 

St.  John's  Chapel,  New  York,  } 
October  17,  1874.  j" 

Beit  known,  Tliat  I,  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith,  D.D., 
Senior  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  by  virtue  of  mj  office,  in  pursuance  of 
Canon  8,  Title  II,  of  the  Digest,  and  with  the  consent  of  a 
majority  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  do  depose  from  the  Ministry- 
George  David  Cummins,  late  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Kentucky.  And  1  do  hereby  ])ronounce  and  record,  in  the 
presence  of  the  Bishops  of  this  Church  assembled  as  a  House 
of  Bishops,  that  tlie  said  George  David  Cummins  has  been 
so  deposed. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  seventeenth  day  of  October,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
four.  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith, 

Senior  Bishop. 
Done  in  our  presence  this  seventeenth  day  of 
October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  seventy-four, 
William  Rollinson  Whittingham, 

BisJiop  of  Maryland. 
William  Bacon  Stevens, 

Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  following  standing  orders  were  adopted  in 
the  House  of  Bishops : 

Mrst.  When  the  House  of  Bishops  is  ready  to  ballot  for  a 
Missionary  Bishop,  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  bid  the  House 
to  prayer,  and  the  order  of  service  shall  be  as  follows  : 

1.  A  Bishop  designated  by  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  read 
a  lesson  taken  out  of  the  Holy  Scriptures — namely,  one  of  the 
following  : 

Exodus  iv.  to  12. 


298  THE  GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Isaiah  vi.  to  8. 
Acts  x:x.  17. 
Rev,  vii.  9. 

2.  After  which  shall  be  said  the  longer  form  of  tlie 
Veni  Creator  Spii'itus,  the  Presiding  Bishop  beginning  and  the 
others  answering  by  verses. 

3.  The  versicles — "  The  T^ord  be  with  you," 

"  And  with  thy  spirit." 
Secret  Prayer,  for  which  there  shall  silence  be  kept  for  a 
space. 

5.  The  Lord's  Prayer  and  II,  Cor.  xiii.  14. 
Second.  When  the  House  of  Bishops  is  ready  to  vote  upon 
the  Confirmation  of  a  Bishop- elect,  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall 
bid  the  House  to  prayer,  and  after  silence  shall  have  been  kept 
for  a  space,  shall  say  the 

Collect  for  the  Fifth  Sunday  after  Epiphany, 
Collect  for  the  Ninth  Sunday  after  Trinity, 
Collect  for  the  Nineteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  and  II. 
Cor.  xiii.  14. 

Tlie  following  "  Minute "  was  adopted  by  the 
Bishops : 

The  House  of  Bishops  having  heard  of  the  death  of  the  Right 
Reverend  John  Payne,  Doctor  of  Divinity,  formerly  Missionary 
Bishop  to  Cape  Pahnas  and  parts  adjacent,  desires  to  enter 
upon  its  records  the  following  minute  : 

This  servant  of  the  Church  was  appointed  Missionary  to 
Africa,  August  11, 1836.  He  was  consecrated  Missionary  Bishop 
July  11,  1851.  Having  devoted  himself  early  in  life  to  the 
Missionary  work  among  the  heathen  of  Africa,  he  was  sustained 
througliout  his  career  by  a  deep  sense  of  "  the  grace"  which 
was  bestowed  upon  him  in  his  call  "  to  preach  among  the  Gen- 
tiles the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  ;"  and  undaunted  by 
physical  obstacles  and  frequent  prostrations  of  his  bodily 
strength,  prosecuted  his  work  in  patient  ho])e  through  thirty - 
four  years,  and  until  his  body  was  so  (enfeebled  that  it  was 
apparcsnt  that  his  further  continuance  in  his  stewardship  would 
be  a  hindrance  to  the  causi;  to  which  his  life  had  been  devoted. 
He  wrote  in  his  last  annual  report  these  memorable  words 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  299 

which  are  recorded  in  this  minute  as  hi^  legacy  to  the  Church, 
and  as  teaching  the  precious  lesson  of  his  life  :  "  For  myself,  I 
fear  that  little  ability  remains  to  aid  directly  this  glorious 
work.  Thirty-three  years'  connection  with  one  of  the  most 
unhealthy  portions  of  the  globe  has  left  me  the  wreck  of  a 
man.  But  I  claim  that  in  devoting  myself  to  preaching  among 
the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,  I  was  no  fool. 
On  the  contrary,  I  did  obey  literally  the  command  of  my  Lord. 
I  did  follow  in  the  very  footsteps  of  Apostles,  Martyrs,  and 
Prophets." 

The  subject  of  Christian  Education  received  the 
following  consideration ; 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Church  be  again  most 
earnestly  reminded  of  their  sacred  duty  to  uphold  the  schools 
and  colleges  which  are  under  Church  direction  and  influence. 
Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  every  Diocese  to  ap- 
point a  Standing  Committee  of  Christian  Education  which 
may  communicate  with  this  Committee  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, collect  the  statistics  of  Church  education  and  of  other 
educational  work  in  the  Diocese,  and  adopt  such  measures  as 
may  be  most  feasible  for  supplying  teachers  and  for  promoting 
the  efficiency  and  permanence  of  our  own  institutions. 

The  Alt-Catholic  movement  was  thus  noticed  by 
the  Bishops : 

Whekeas,  This  House  has,  with  great  satisfaction,  learned, 
by  the  report  of  several  of  its  members,  the  steady  progress  of 
the  movement  in  Germany  and  elsewhere  toward  the  recovery 
of  purity  in  doctrine  and  discipline,  and  the  earnest  desire  and 
effort  developing  in  connection  with  that  movement  for  the 
reconciliation  of  portions  of  the  Church  now  more  or  less  dis- 
sociated ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  this  House,  with  renewed  confidence,  reiterates 
the  expression  of  its  sympathy  with  the  Bishop  and  Synod  of 
the  Old  Catholic  communion  in  Germany,  and  the  promise  of 
its  prayers  for  the  Divine  blessing  and  direction  on  their  work. 

Resolved,  That  three  Bishops  be  appointed  a  Commission  of 
this  House,  to  keep  up   fraternal  correspondence   with  the 


300        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Bishop  and  Synod,  for  exchange  of  information  and  considera- 
tion of  overtures  for  reconciliation  and  intercommunion  be- 
tween sundered  Churches. 

The  Bishops  of  Maryland,  Pittsburgh,  and  Alba- 
ny were  appointed  the  members  of  this  Committee. 

The  number  of  Clergy  reported  was  3086,  and  from 
every  part  of  the  land  evidence  appeared  of  the 
growth  and  increasing  prosperity  and  influence  of  the 
Church.  Since  the  preceding  Convention,  seven  Bish- 
ops had  been  consecrated  and  ten  had  passed  away 
— The  Eight  Eev.  Charles  Pettit  Mcllvaine,  Ohio, 
March  12th,  1873;  the  Eight  Eev.  Manton  East- 
burn,  Massachusetts,  September  11th,  1872 ;  the 
Eight  Eev.  George  Upfold,  Indiana,  August  26th, 
1872;  the  Eight  Eev.  Henry  John  Wliitehouse, 
Illinois,  August  10th,  1874 ;  the  Eight  Eev.  John 
Payne  (retired),  Africa,  October  23d,  1874;  the 
Eight  Eev.  Thomas  Frederick  Davis,  South  Caro- 
lina, December  2d,  1871 ;  the  Eight  Eev.  Henry 
Washington  Lee,  Iowa,  September  26th,  1874 ;  the 
Eight  Eev.  George  Maxwell  Eandall,  Colorado, 
September  28tli,  1873;  the  Eight  Eev.  William 
Edmond  Armitage,  Wisconsin,  December  7th,  1873; 
the  Eight  Eev.  John  Gottlieb  Auer,  Cape  Palmas, 
Africa,' February  16th,  1874. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the 
Church  closed  with  these  earnest  words,  than  which 
none  better  can  be  found  to  complete  our  record  of 
this  important  session : 

In  view  of  the  history  of  the  past  triennial  period,  and  the 
events  that  are  transpiring  around  us,  we  can  unhesitatingly 
avow  our  fixed  conviction  that  tliis  Church  has  a  most  encour- 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCE.  301 

aging  future  before  her,  that  labor  has  never  been  more 
earnest,  faith  more  positive,  self-sacrifice  more  devoted,  and 
kindly  feeling  and  charity  among  brethren  more  general.  All 
we  seem  to  need  is  a  higher  standard  of  personal  holiness 
among  all  our  people,  and  a  larger  measure  of  liberality  in 
sustaining  the  works  the  Church  has  in  hand,  to  secure  in 
the  future  a  growth  and  expansion  that  shall  exceed  even  the 
great  advancement  of  the  past.  The  field  is  widening,  oppor- 
tunities are  multiplying,  the  enemy  is  alive  and  powerful,  and 
it  behooves  us  to  fight  manfully,  contend  earnestly  for  the 
Faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints,  and  "  work  whilst  it  is  day, 
for  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work." 


302        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


THE    CONVENTION    OF    1877. 

The  General  Convention  met  in  1877  for  the  first 
time  in  Boston.  Once  only  had  it  assembled  in  the 
New  England  States,  in  1811,  at  New  Haven.  The 
place  of  meeting  was  the  new  Trinity  Church,  a 
magnificent  edifice,  the  erection  of  wliich  attests  the 
successful  rectorate  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Phillips 
Brooks.  The  rej)resentation  was  larger  than  at  any 
previous  Convention.  Eifty-five  out  of  the  fifty-eight 
Bishops  comprising  the  House  of  Bishops  were  in 
attendance.  One  hundred  and  eighty-four  clerical, 
and  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  lay  deputies,  made 
up  the  Lower  House,  together  with  nine  clerical  and 
eight  lay  delegates  from  the  missionary  jurisdictions, 
who  were  admitted  to  seats  on  the  floor,  making,  with 
the  Secretaries  and  Treasurer  of  the  Convention,  a 
representation  of  nearly  four  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  session  occupied  twenty  working  days,  lasting 
from  the  third  to  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  month. 
The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Bishop  of  Connecti- 
cut, the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Williams,  from  St.  Luke,  7  :  22. 
After  the  02^ening  services,  which  were  of  a  most 
impressive  nature,  and  were  attended  by  a  most  inter- 
ested and  intelligent  assemblage,  the  House  of  Bishops 
organized  under  the  presidency  of  the  veneral)le 
senior  Bishop,  Dr.  Bosworth  Smith,  with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
H.  C.  Potter  as  Secretary.  The  Secretary  of  the  House 
of  Deputies,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Perry,  having  been  raised 
to  the  Episcopate  during  the  recess  of  Convention, 


OF   THE   AMERICAN  CHURCH.  303 

and  the  Assistant  Secretary,  the  Eev.  Dr.  W.  C 
Williams,  of  Georgia,  having  resigned  his  post  in 
consequence  of  illness,  the  Rev.  T.  Stafford  Drowne, 
D.D.,  of  Long  Island,  under  appointment  of  the 
Standing  Committee  of  Massachusetts,  acted  as  ''  Pro- 
visional Secretary  "  in  effecting  the  organization  of  the 
House,  whereupon  the  Rev.  Alexander  Burgess,  D,D., 
was  elected  President,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  L. 
Ilutchins  Secretary.  By  a  close  vote  (ayes  94,  nays 
89),  the  House  postponed  action  in  the  choice  of 
a  Vice  President,  and  the  provision  of  the  ''  Stand- 
ing Order  of  the  Organization  of  tlie  House" 
authorizing  such  an  appointment  was  repealed. 
The  presence  of  the  Rev.  Craufurd  Tait,  M.A., 
the  only  son  of  the  Primate  of  all  England, 
was  the  occasion  of  a  pleasant  interchange  of  courte- 
sies between  this  estimable  young  clergyman,  whose 
birth  and  position  made  him  to  a  certain  extent  a 
representative  of  the  mother  Cliurch  of  England,  and 
the  two  Houses  of  Convention  to  which  he  was  for- 
mally introduced,  and  from  the  members  of  which  he 
received,  as  he  well  deserved,  marked  attention.  In 
his  lamented  decease,  shortly  after  his  return  to  his 
native  land,  the  hearts  of  many  in  both  hemispheres 
felt  23ersonally  bereaved  at  the  loss  of  a  youth  of  such 
piety  and  promise. 

A  new  feature  was  inaugurated  at  this  session  in 
the  daily  publication  of  condensed  reports  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  House  of  Bishops,  prepared  by  a 
Committee  appointed  for  this  purpose.  A  delegation 
from  the  Provincial  Synod  of  the  Church  in  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  was  formally  received  by  both 
Houses  of   Convention.       Three   new  dioceses   were 


304:  THE   GENERAL  CONVENTION 

created  ;  one,  tlie  Diocese  of  AVest  Virginia,  consist- 
ing of  ''the  territory  of  the  State  of  West  Virginia, 
according  to  the  State  lines  thereof ;"  a  second,  the 
Diocese  of  Quincy,  comprising  that  part  of  the 
Diocese  of  Illinois  "lying  west  of  the  Illinois  Eiver, 
and  La  Salle  Connty,  and  south  of  the  counties  of 
"Whiteside  and  Lee  f  and  a  third,  the  Diocese  of 
Springfield,  comprising  that  portion  of  the  State  and 
Diocese  of  Illinois  "lying  south  of  the  counties  of 
Woodford,  Livingston,  Ford,  and  Iroquois,  and  east 
of  the  Illinois  Riyer."  The  proposed  amendment  to 
Art.  5  of  the  Constitution,  providing  for  the  setting 
apart  of  a  portion  of  the  territory  of  a  Diocese  too 
large  for  due  Episcopal  supervision  as  a  missionary 
jurisdiction,  was  adopted  by  the  House  of  Deputies, 
but  failed  to  pass  the  House  of  Bishops.  The  proposed 
amendment  to  Art.  8  of  the  Constitution,  relating  to 
shortened  forms  of  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  was 
defeated  in  the  Lower  House.  The  following  changes 
in  the  Constitution  and  Canons  were  adopted,  and 
incorporated  into  the  law  of  the  Church,  to  wit ; 


CHANGE   IN   THE  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  8  of  the  Constitution  was  amended  bo  as  to  read  as 
follows  : 

A  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  Administration  of  tlie  Sacra- 
ments, and  other  Kites  and  Ceremonies  of  tlie  Church,  Articles 
of  Religion,  and  a  Form  and  Manner  of  making,  ordaininj?,  and 
consecrating  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons,  when  established 
by  this  or  a  future  General  Convention,  shall  be  used  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  those  Dioceses  which  shall  have 
adopted  this  Constitution.  No  alteration  or  addition  shall  be 
made  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  other  Offices  of  the 
Church,  or  the  Articles  of  Religion,  unless  the  same  shall  be 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  305 

proposed  in  one  General  Convention,  and  by  a  resolve  thereof 
made  known  to  the  Convention  of  every  Diocese,  and  adopted 
at  the  subsequent  General  Convention.  Provided,  however, 
That  the  General  Convention  shall  have  power,  from  time  to 
time,  to  amend  the  Lectionary  ;  but  no  act  for  this  purpose 
shall  be  valid  which  is  not  voted  for  by  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  Bishops  entitled  to  seats  in  the  House  of  Bishops, 
and  by  a  majority  of  all  the  Dioceses  entitled  to  representation 
in  the  House  of  Deputies. 


CHANGES   IN   THE   CANONS. 

CitU  I.— Canon  15. 

Clause  [4]  of  Section  vii.  of  Canon  15  of  Title  I.  was  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

[4.]  The  jurisdiction  of  this  Church  extending  in  right, 
though  not  always  in  form,  to  all  persons  belonging  to  it 
within  the  United  States,  it  is  hereby  enacted  that  each  Mis- 
sionary Bishop  shall  have  jurisdiction  over  the  clergy  in  the 
district  assigned  him  ;  and  in  case  a  presentment  and  trial  of  a 
Clergyman  become  proper,  the  Clerical  Members  of  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  appointed  by  the  Missionary  Bishop  as  is  here- 
inafter provided  for  may  make  presentment ;  and  the  trial 
shall  take  place  according  to  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of 
any  Diocese  of  this  Church  which  may  have  been  selected  by 
the  said  Missionary  Bishop  at  the  time  of  the  appointment  of 
such  Standing  Committee  :  Provided,  that  the  Court  shall  be 
composed  of  at  least  three  Presbyters,  excluding  the  members 
of  the  Standing  Committee  and  the  accused.  And  if  there  be 
not  a  sufficient  number  of  qualified  Presbyters  within  his  juris- 
diction, the  said  Missionary  Bishop  may  call  to  his  aid  Presby- 
ters of  any  Diocese  or  Missionary  Jurisdiction  sufficiently  near 


Citk  11. — Canon  4. 

Canon  4  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows-. 

Of  Differences  between  Ministers  and  their  Congregations,  and  of 
the  Dissolution  of  a  Pastoral  Connection. 

§  i.  A  Rector,  canonically  elected  and  in  charge,  or  an  Insti- 
tuted Minister,  may  not  resign  his  Parish  without  consent  of 
the  said  Parish  or  its  Vestry  (if  the  Vestry  be  authorized  to  act 


306        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

in  the  premises)  ;  nor  may  such  Rector  or  Minister  be  removed 
therefrom  by  said  Parish  or  Vestry  against  his  will,  except  as 
hereinafter  provided. 

§  ii.  In  case  any  urgent  reason  or  reasons  sliould  occasion  a 
■wish  in  a  Rector  or  Minister  as  aforesaid,  or  in  the  Parish  com- 
mitted to  his  charge,  to  bring  about  a  separation  and  a  dissolu- 
tion of  all  pastoral  relation  between  such  Minister  and  Parish, 
and  the  parties  be  not  agreed  in  respect  of  such  separation  and 
dissolution,  notice  of  such  desire  and  disagreement  may  be 
given  by  either  party  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Authority  of  the 
Diocese  or  Missionary  Jurisdiction,  in  writing.  And  in  case  of 
any  difference  between  the  Minister  and  Parish  or  Vestry  as 
aforesaid,  which  may  not  be  satisfactorily  settled  by  the  godly 
judgment  of  the  Bishop  alone,  or  which  he  may  decline  to  con- 
sider without  counsel,  the  Bishop  (or  if  the  Diocese  be  vacant, 
any  Bishop  selected  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Authority),  acting 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Diocese  or  Missionary  Jurisdiction,  or  with  that  of  the  Presby- 
ters only  of  said  Standing  Committee  (if  both  parties  shall 
assent  to  such  limitation  in  writing),  shall  be  the  ultimate  ar- 
biter and  judge  ;  and  refusal  to  accept  and  comply  with  the 
arbitration  and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  Minister  aforesaid, 
shall  not  work  a  continuance  of  lawful  and  canonical  Rector- 
ship or  settlement  beyond  the  date  fixed,  conditionally  or  other- 
wise, for  its  termination  l)y  such  arbitration  and  judgment, 
should  such  termination  be  recommended  and  required  ;  but 
such  pastoral  connection  shall,  unless  otherwise  agreed'  by  the 
parties,  cease  and  terminate  as  therein  required.  But  such 
refusal  shall  subject  the  Minister  so  refusing  to  inhibition  by 
the  Bishop  aforesaid  from  all  ministerial  offices  and  functions 
within  the  Diocese  or  Missionary  Jurisdiction  ;  and  such  refusal 
on  the  part  of  a  Parish  shall  disqualify  it  from  representation 
in  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  until  it  shall  have  been  de- 
clared by  the  Ecclesiastical  Authority  to  have  given  satisfac- 
tory guarantees  fdr  the  acceptance  of  and  compliance  with  the 
arbitration  and  judgment. 

^  iii.  In  case  of  the  regular  and  canonical  dissolution  of  the 
connection  between  a  Minister  and  his  congregation,  the 
Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  "Bishop,  the  Standing  Committee, 
shall  direct  the  Secretary  of  the  Convention  to  record  the  same. 
But  if  the  dissolution  of  the  connection  between  a  Minister  and 
his  Congregation  be  not  regular  or  canonical,  the  Bishop  or 
Standing  Committee  shall  lay  the  same  before  the  Convention 
of  the  Diocese,  in  order  that  the  above-mentioned  penalties 
may  take  effect. 

§  IV.  This  Canon  shall  not  be  in  force  in  any  Diocese  which 
has  made,  or  shall  herealter  make,  provision  by  Canon  upon  this 
subject,  nor  in  any  Diocese  with  whose  laws  or  charters  it  may 
interfere. 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  807 


S^itle  11. — Canon  5. 


Canon  5  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows 


Of  Renunciation  of  the  Ministry. 

§  i.  If  any  Minister  of  tliis  Church,  against  whom  there  is  no 
ecclesiastical  proceeding-  instituted,  shall  declare,  in  writing,  to 
the  Ecclesiastical  Authority  of  the  Diocese  or  Missionary  Juris- 
diction to  which  he  belongs,  his  renunciation  of  the  Ministry  of 
this  Church,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Author- 
ity to  record  the  declaration  so  made  ;  and  thereupon  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop,  or,  if  there  be  no  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese or  Missionary  Jurisdiction,  of  any  Bishop  who,  being 
requested  by  the  Standing  Committee,  shall  consent  to  act  in 
the  matter,  to  depose  such  person  from  the  Ministry,  and  to 
pronounce  and  record,  in  the  presence  of  two  or  more  Clergy- 
men, that  the  person  so  declaring  has  been  deposed  from  the 
Ministry  of  this  Church.  Promded,  Jiowever,  That  if  the  Bishop 
shall  be  satisfied  that  the  person  so  declaring  is  not  amenable 
for  any  canonical  offence,  and  that  his  renunciation  of  the  Min- 
istry is  not  occasioned  by  foregoing  misconduct  or  irregularity, 
but  is  voluntary  and  for  causes  assigned  or  known,  which  do 
not  effect  his  moral  character,  he  shall  so  declare  in  pronounc- 
ing and  recording  said  deposition,  and  shall,  if  desired,  give  a 
certificate  to  this  effect  to  the  x^erson  so  deposed  ;  and  he  shall 
also  give  due  notice  of  such  deposition  from  the  Ministry  to  the 
Ecclesiastical  Authority  of  every  Diocese  and  Missionary  Juris- 
diction of  this  Church,  in  the  form  in  which  the  same  is  re- 
corded. 

§  ii.  If  the  Ecclesiastical  Authority  shall  have  reason  to 
believe  that  the  person  so  declaring  has  acted  hastily  and  un- 
advisedly, action  on  such  declaration  may  be  postponed  for  the 
space  of  not  more  than  six  months,  during  which  time  such 
person  may  withdraw  his  application, 

§  iii.  If  the  Ecclesiastical  Authority,  to  whom  such  declara- 
tion is  made,  shall  have  ground  to  suppose  that  the  person 
making  the  same  is  liable  to  presentment  for  any  canonical 
offence,  such  person  may,  in  the  discretion  of  the  said  Ecclesias- 
tical Authority,  be  put  upon  trial  for  such  offence,  notwith- 
standing such  declaration  of  renunciation  of  the  Ministry. 


308        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 


Citic  IL— Canon  6. 


Section  ii.  of  Canon  6  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read 
as  follows  : 

§  ii.  And  if  such  declaration  be  not  made  within  six  montbs, 
as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop  to  depose  said 
Minister  from  the  Ministry,  and  to  pronounce  and  record,  in 
the  presence  of  two  or  nioie  Presbyters,  that  he  has  been  so 
deposed  :  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  the  Minister  so  re- 
nouncing shall  transmit  to  the  Bishop  receiving  the  certificate 
a  retraction  of  the  acts  or  declarations  constituting  his  offence, 
the  Bishop  may,  at  his  discretion,  abstain  from  any  further  pro- 
ceedings. 


Citk  IL— Canon  10. 


Section  ii.  of  Canon  10  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read 
as  follows  : 

§  ii.  [1.]  When  any  Minister  is  deposed  from  the  Holy 
Ministry,  he  is  deposed  therefrom  entirely,  and  not  from  a 
hiffher  to  a  lower  Order  in  the  same  ;  and  whenever  a  Minister 
sball  be  deposed,  the  Bishop  who  pronounces  sentence  shall, 
without  delay,  give  notice  thereof  to  every  Minister  and  Vestry 
in  the  Diocese,  and  also  to  all  the  Bishops  of  this  Church,  and 
where  there  is  no  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee  ;  and  the 
notice  sl)all  specify  under  what  Canon  the  said  Minister  has 
been  deposed. 

[2.]  Deposition,  displacing,  and  all  like  expressions  are  the 
same  as  degradation. 


Cttle  IL— Canon  11. 


Section  ii.  of  Canon  11  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read 
as  follows : 

§  ii.  A  Bishop  of  this  Chnrch  may,  for  reasons  which  he 
shall  deem  sufficient,  remit  and  terminate  any  sentence  of  de- 
position or  degradation  pronounced  by  him  upon  a  Presbyter 


OF  THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  309 

or  Deacon  ;  but  he  shall  exercise  this  power  only  upon  the 
follovvinnr  conditions: — 

First,  That  he  shall  act  with  the  unanimous  advice  and  con- 
sent of  his  Standing  Committee, 

Second,  That  he  shall  first  submit  his  proposed  action,  with  his 
reasons  therefor,  to  the  judL'ment  of  five  of  the  Bishops  of  this 
Cliurch,  whose  Dioceses  or  Missionary  Jurisdictions  are  nearest 
to  his  own,  and  shall  receive  in  writing,  from  at  least  four  of 
said  Bishops,  their  approval  of  the  said  remission  and  their 
consent  thereto. 

Third,  That  before  remitting  such  sentence  he  shall  require 
the  person  to  be  restored  to  the  Ministry  to  subscribe  the 
declaration  set  forth  in  Article  7  of  the  Constitution. 

Fourth,  That  in  case  such  person  was  deposed  for  abandon- 
ing the  Communion  of  this  Cliurch,  or  having  been  deposed  by 
reason  of  his  renunciation  of  the  Ministry  of  this  Church,  or  for 
other  cause,  he  have  also  abandoned  its  Communion,  the  Bishop, 
before  granting  such  remission,  shall  be  satisfied  that  such  per- 
son has  lived  in  lay-communion  with  this  Church  for  three 
years  next  preceding  his  application  for  such  remission  ;  and. 

Fifth,  That  in  case  the  person  applying  for  such  remission 
shall  reside  out  of  the  Diocese  or  Missionary  District  in  which 
he  was  deposed,  the  Bishop,  before  granting  such  remission, 
shall  be  furnished  with  written  evidence  of  the  approval  of 
of  such  application  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  or  District  in 
which  such  person  resides. 


Citle  II.— Canon  13. 

Canon  13  of  Title  II.  was  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

Of  Marriage  and  Divorce. 

%  i.  If  any  persons  be  joined  together  otherwise  than  as  God's 
"Word  doth  allow,  their  marriage  is  not  lawful. 

§  iii.  No  Minister,  knowingly  after  due  inquiry,  shall  solem- 
nize the  marriage  of  any  person  who  has  a  divorced  husband  or 
wife  still  living,  if  such  husband  or  wife  has  been  put  away 
f  for  any  cause  arising  after  marriage  ;  but  this  Canon  shall  not 
be  held  to  apply  to  the  innocent  party  in  a  divorce  for  the 
cause  of  adultery,  or  to  parties  once  divorced  seeking  to  be 
united  again. 

§  iii.  If  any  Minister  of  this  Church  shall  have  reasonable 
cause  to  doubt  whether  a  person  desirous  of  being  admitted 
to   Holy  Baptism,  or  to  Confirmation,  or  to  the   Holy  Com- 


310        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

munion,  lias  been  married  otherwise  tliaii  as  the  Word  of  God 
and  discipline  of  this  Ohurch  allow,  such  Minister,  before  re- 
ceivinir  such  person  to  these  ordinances,  shall  refer  the  oase  to 
the  Bishop  for  his  godly  judtrment  thereupon.  Providtd,^  how- 
ever, That  DO  Minister  shall,  in  any  case,  refuse  the  Sacra- 
ments to  a  penitent  person  in  iuiuiiuent  danger  of  death. 

i>  iv.  Questions  touching  the  facis  of  any  case  arising  under 
Section  ii.  of  this  Canon  shall  be  referred  to  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  or  Missionary  Jurisdiction  in  which  the  same  may 
occur  ;  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop  of  such  Diocese  or  Missionary 
Jurisdiction,  then  to  some  Bishop  to  be  designated  by  the 
Standing  Committee  ;  and  the  Bishop  to  whom  such  questions 
have  beln  so  referred  shall  thereupon  make  inquiry  in  such 
manner  as  he  shall  deem  expedient,  and  shall  deliver  his 
judgment  in  the  premises. 

c^  V.  This  Canon,  so  far  as  it  aflBxes  penalties,  does  not  apply 
to  cases  occurring  before  it  takes  eflfect  according  to  Canon  4, 
Title  IV. 


mit  III.— Canon  1. 

Clause  [8]  of  Section  ii.  of  Canon  1  of  Title  III.  was  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  lollows  : 

[3.]  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Registrar  to  procure  a 
proper  and  sufficient  book  of  record,  and  to  enter  therein  a 
record  of  the  Consecrations  of  all  the  Bishops  of  this  Church, 
designating  accurately  the  time  and  place  of  the  same,  with 
the  names  of  the  Consecrating  Bishops,  and  of  others  present 
an  \  assisting  ;  to  have  the  same  authenticated  in  the  fullest 
manner  now^practicable  ;  and  to  take  care  for  the  similar  record 
and  authentication  of  all  future  Consecrations  in  this  Church, 
by  securing  in  person,  or  by  deputy,  at  the  time  and  place  of 
every  such  Consecration,  a  certificate  signed  by  the  Bishop 
presiding,  and  by  two  or  more  of  the  Bishops  assisting  in  the 
said  Consecration,  which  certificate  shall  be  entered  in  the  said 
book  of  record  under  the  attestation  of  a  Notary  Public,  and 
also  placed  on  tile. 


STitlc  III. — Canon  .5. 

Clause  [11]  of  Section  iii.  of  Canon  5  of  Title  III.  was  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

[11]  No  Clergyman  shall  be  allowed  to  take  charge  of  such 
Congregation  until  he  shall  have  been  nominated  by  the  Vestry 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  311 

tlier.'of  (or,  if  there  be  no  such  Vestry,  hy  the  Staiidin^Com- 
luittee  provided  for  by  this  Canon),  and  approved  by  the  Bishop 
in  charo-e  •  and  when  sucli  appointment  shall  have  been  ac- 
cepted by  the  Cler^ryman  so  appointed,  he  shall  be  transferred 
to  the  iurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  in  charge     ^    ^^^    .  ^    , 

Clause  [12]  of  Section  iii.  of  Canon  5  of  Title  III.  is  repealed. 


Citlc  III.— Cai^on  9. 

Canon  9  of  Title  III.  was  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows  : 

Of  the  Constitution  of  the  Domestic  and  F'oreign  Mission ^^^^^^^ 

ciety  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  btatcs 

of  America. 

S  i    The  Constitution  of  the  said  Society,  which  was  incor- 
co?porated  by  an  Act  of  the   Legislature  of  the  State  of  ^ew 
York,  is   hereby   amended   and  established  so  as  to  read   as 
follows  : 
Constitution  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 

the   Protestant   Episcopal   Church  in   the    United^  States^  of 

America,  as  established  in  1820,  and  since  amended  at  various 

times. 

Abticle  1.  This  institution  shall  be  denominated  The  Do- 
mestic and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America 

Article  II.  This  Society  shall  be  considered  as  comprehend- 
inu-allpersons  who  are  members  of  this  Church.   _ 

Article  III.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Missions  of  such 
Societv,  composed  of  the  Bishops  of  this  Church,  and  the  mem- 
bers fo;  the  time  b.inff  of  the  House  of  Deputies  of  the  (gen- 
eral Convention  of  this  Church,  Bishops  and  Deputies  sitting 
apart  as  in  General  Convention,  or  together  when  they  shall  so 
decide  The  Board  of  Missions  thus  constituted  shall  convene 
on  the" third  day  of  the  session  of  the  General  ^^o^^^e^ticni.  and 
shall  sit  from  time  to  time  as  the  business  of  the  Board  shall 

'^''aoticle  IV.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Managers,  comprising 
all  the  Bishops  as  members  ex  ^^do.  and  fifteen  Presbyters 
and  fifteen  laymen,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Missions  a 
every  triennial  meeting  of  the  ^^^^^ral  Convention  who  liaU 
have  the  management  of  the  General  Missions  of  th  s  C  hurcli 
and  shall  remain  in  office  until  their  successors  are  chosen  and 
shall  have  power  to  fill  any  vacancies  that  may  occur  m  their 


312        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

number.  Eight  Clerical  members  and  eijrbt  Lay  members 
shall  constitute  a  quorum.  This  Board  of  Managers  shall, 
during  the  recess  of  the  Convention,  exercise  all  the  corporate 
powers  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  The 
Board  of  Managers  shall  report  to  the  General  Convention, 
constituted  as  a  Board  of  Missions,  on  or  before  the  third  day 
of  the  session  of  the  General  Convention.  But  nothing  herein 
contained  shall  affect  the  rights  of  any  surviving  life-members 
of  the  Board  of  Missions. 

Article  V.  The  Board  of  Managers  is  authorized  to  form, 
from  its  own  members,  a  Committee  for  Domestic  Missions  and 
a  Committee  for  Foreign  Missions,  and  such  other  Committees 
as  it  may  deem  desirable  to  promote  special  Missionary  work, 
and  is  also  authorized  to  appoint  such  officers  as  shall  be  need- 
ful for  carrying  on  the  work. 

Article  VI.  The  Board  of  Managers  is  intrusted  with  power 
to  establish  and  regulate  such  Missions  as  are  not  placed  under 
Episcopal  supervision,  and  to  enact  all  by-laws  which  it  may 
deem  necessary  for  its  own  government  and  for  the  government 
of  its  Committees  :  Provided,  ahcays,  that  in  relation  to  organ- 
ize 1  Dioceses  and  Missionary  Jurisdictions  having  Bishops,  the 
appropriations  shall  be  made  in  gross  to  such  Dioceses  and  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions,  to  be  disbursed  by  the  local  authorities 
thereof.  The  Board  sliall  notify  to  the  several  Bishops  the 
gross  sums  so  appropriated  ;  and  those  Bishops  shall  regulate 
the  number  of  Mission  Stations,  appoint  the  Missionaries,  and 
assia^n  to  them  their  stipends,  with  the  approval  of  the  Board 
of  Managers. 

Article  VII.  No  person  shall  be  appointed  a  Missionary 
who  is  not  at  the  time  a  Minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  regular  standing  ;  but  nothing  in  this  section  pre- 
cludes the  Committees  from  making  pecuniary  appropriations 
in  aid  of  Missions  under  the  care  of  other  Churches  in  com- 
munion with  this  Church,  or  of  employing  laymen  or  women, 
members  of  this  Church,  to  do  Missionary  work. 

Article  VIII.  The  Board  of  Managers  is  authorized  to  pro- 
mote the  formation  of  auxiliary  Missionary  Associations,  whose 
contributions,  as  well  as  those  specially  appropriated  by  indi- 
viduals, shall  be  received  and  paid  in  accordance  with  the  wish 
of  the  donors,  when  expressed  in  writing.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Board  of  Managers  to  arrange  for  public  Missionary 
meetinofs,  to  be  held  at  the  same  time  and  place  as  the 
General  Convention,  and  at  such  other  times  and  places  as  may 
be  determined  upon,  to  which  all  auxiliaries  approved  by  the 
Board  of  Managers  may  send  one  Clerical  and  one  Lay  Dele- 
gate. 

ARTICLT5  TX.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended 
at  any  time  by  the  General  Convention  of  this  Church. 

§  ii.     All  Canons,  and  all  action  by  or  under  the  authority  of 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  313 

the  General  Convention,  so  far  as  inconsistent  with  the  pro- 
visions of  this  Canon  and  of  such  amended  Constitution,  are 
hereby  repealed  ;  Provided,  however,  tliat  notliing  herein  shall  in 
any  manner  impair  or  affect  any  corporate  rights  of  the  said 
Society,  or  any  vested  right  whatever. 
§  iii.     This  Canon  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


Citle  IV.— Catson  2. 

Canon  2  of  Title  IV.  was  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows : 
Of  the  Enactment,  Amendment,  and  Repeal  of  Canons. 

§  i.  In  all  cases  of  future  enactment,  the  same,  if  by  way 
of  amendment  of  an  existing  provision,  shall  be  in  the  follow- 
ing form:  "Title — ,  Canon — ,  Section — ,  Clause — ,  is  hereby 
amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows."  And  if  the  enactment  is  of 
an  additional  Clause,  Section,  or  Canon,  it  shall  be  desijinated  as 
the  next  Canon  or  next  Section,  or  next  Clause  of  a  Canon  or 
Section,  in  the  order  of  numberinpf  of  the  Title  to  which  the 
subject  properly  belongs  ;  and  if  a  Canon  or  Section  or  Clause  be 
stricken  out,  the  existing  numbering  shall  be  retained  until  a 
new  edition  of  the  Canons  be  directed,  or  until  changed  as  in 
the  next  Section  provided. 

§  ii.  The  Committee  on  Canons  of  each  House  of  the  Gen- 
eral Convention  shall,  at  the  close  of  each  Session  of  the  General 
Convention,  appoint  two  of  their  number  to  certify  the  changes, 
if  any,  made  in  the  Canons,  including  a  correction  of  the  refer- 
ences made  in  any  Canon  to  another,  and  to  report  the  same, 
with  the  proper  arrangement  thereof,  to  the  Secretary,  who 
shall  print  the  same  in  the  Journal. 

The  discussion  of  certain  memorials  and  resolutions 
advocating  tlie  change  of  the  name  of  the  Church  by 
the  removal  of  the  words  "^  Protestant  Episcopal"  was 
followed  in  each  House  by  action  practically  unani- 
mous in  its  refusal  to  entertain  such  a  proposition. 
On  the  matter  of  Christian  education  the  following 
ing  resolution  was  adopted  : 

Besolved,  That  it  is  the  solemn  conviction  of  this  General 
Convention  in  both  Houses,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Clergy  and 


€)14  THE    GENERAL   CONVENTION 

Laity  of  the  Church  to  take,  so  far  as  the  opportunity  is  afforded 
them,  au  active  interest  in  the  public  schools  provided  by  the 
State,  with  the  purpose  of  extending  the  important  benefits  of 
a  secular  education  to  all  our  citizens,  and  of  diffusing-,  side  by 
side  with  these,  as  much  of  religious  influence  and  instruction 
as  possible  ;  to  supplement  them  with  thorough  Christian 
teaching  elsewhere,  and  to  add  proper  Church  schools  and  in- 
stitutions for  the  whole  and  more  complete  work  of  education, 
wherever  they  are  needed,  and  the  means  for  their  support  can 
be  commanded. 

The  adoption  of  the  '^  Table  of  Affinity"  in  the 
English  '^  Pra3Tr-Book  "  was  discussed  at  length,  as 
were  also  the  subjects  of  ^^  Sisterhoods"  and  "  Brother- 
hoods," and  measures  looking  toward  securing  ^'^  godly 
discipline"  among  the  communing  members  of  the 
Church.  On  these  points  definite  action  failed,  as  it 
also  did  respecting  Synods  of  Dioceses  and  Suffragan 
Bishops,  and  the  proposed  addition  of  a  suffrage  to  the 
Litany  asking  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest  to  send  forth 
laborers  into  His  harvest. 

The  resignation  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  F.  Adams, 
D.D.,  as  Missionary  Bishop  of  New  Mexico  and  Ari- 
zona, was  accepted  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  the 
Convention  elected  the  Rev.  David  Buel  Knicker- 
backer,  D.D.,  of  Minnesota,  to  the  vacant  see.  Action 
was  taken  jiermitting  tlic  use,  in  place  of  the  lessons 
designated  in  the  Calendar,  of  those  reported  by  the 
Joint  Committee  on  tlie  Lectionary  for  Lent,  and  also 
allowing  the  use  of  the  new  English  Lectionary  at  the 
option  of  the  clergyman  until  the  next  General  Con- 
vention. 

A  Joint  Committee  of  the  last  General  Convention 
presented  the  following  important  rei)ort,  the  con- 
sideration of  which  Avas  laid  over  until  the  subsequent 


OF   THE    AMERICAN    CHUKCII.  315 

session.       Its    bearing    upon    questions    continually 
mooted  Avarrants  its  presentation  in  full  in  our  pages  : 

The  Force  of  Joikt  Resolutions. 

"  Tlie  terms '  Constitutions  '  and  '  Canons '  are  tbe  usual  appro- 
priate  terms  for  those  acts  of  ecclesiastical  legislation  winch 
declare  a  rule  or  measure  of  conduct,  and  are  prospective  in 
operation  In  ancient  councils,  in  the  mass  of  laws  m  the 
English  Annals,  found  in  Johnson's  Collections  from  the  year 
740^  these  are  the  terms  employed.  Rescripts,  decretals,  and 
capitularies  are  edicts  of  particular  powers,  of  a  more  local 
character.  The  term  'joint  resolutions'  is  known  in  our  own 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  legislation.  Under  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  Article  IV.,  a  new  State  may  be  admitted 
into  the  Union  by  Congress. 

"  This  has  been  done  sometimes  by  a  joint  resolution  ot  the 
two  Houses,  as  in  the  case  of  Indiana  in  1816,  Illinois  in  1818, 
and  Texas  in  1845  ;  sometimes  by  Act  of  Congress,  as  in  the 
instances  of  Maine,  Kentucky,  and  Michigan. 

"  But  by  the  seventh  Section  of  Article  3,  every  order,  reso- 
lution, or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the  two  Houses  is 
necessary  (except  questions  of  adjournment)  shall  be  approved 
by  the  President,  or,  if  disapproved,  repassed  by  two  thirds,  etc. 
"  Thus  all  three  are  placed  on  the  same  footing.  The  fifth 
Article  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  provides  that  new 
Dioceses  mav  be  admitted  into  union. 

"This  has" been  carried  out  by  joint  resolution.^  The  case  of 
Arkansas  (1871)  is  an  example.  A  Section  of  a  Canon  of  1874 
regulates  this  matter  to  some  extent. 

"  Joint  resolutions  may  be  classed  under  several  heads  : 
"  (1.)     There  is  a  class  expresive  of  sympathy,  congratulation, 
or  courtesy  merely.  ,      ,  ^       -.       /^ocr-x 

"  The  cases  of  intercourse  with  the  Church  of  Sweden  (1850, 
and  as  to  the  Russo-Greek  Church  (1874),  are  examples. 

"  (2  )  Resolutions  recommending  a  particular  action  or  course 
of  conduct  to  the  members  of  the  Church,  or  bodies  of  it.  We 
have  instances  in  the  resolution  as  to  almsgiving  on  the  first 
day  of  the  week  (1859),  and  as  to  Associate  Rectors  (1808).  _ 

"(8.)  There  are  numerous  instances  of  joint  resolutions 
merely  expressing  an  opinion  of  the  two  Houses  that  particular 
practces  should  be  avoided,  or  particular  measures  pursued. 
The  action  in  1859,  as  to  almsgiving,  was  of  this  character. 
That  of  1841,  as  to  free  sittings,  was  similar. 

"  The  opinion  of  the  House  of  Bishops  sought  for  by  the 
House  of  Deputies,  on  Ceremonies  and  Rubrics,  may  be  thus 

"  (4.)'    We  have  a  class  which  relates  to  the  General  Conven- 


316        THE  GENEKAL  CONVENTION 

tion  as  an  organized  body — tlie  mode  of  action  of  itself  and  its 
agencies. 

"  The  admission  of  new  Dioceses,  the  action  as  to  Board  of 
Missions,  Theological  Seminary,  etc.,  may  be  thus  arranged. 

"  (5.)  But  there  is  a  body  of  joint  resolutions  which  on  their 
face  have  the  character  of  a  positive  act  of  legislation. 

"  In  1808  it  was  jointly  resolved  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this 
Church  that  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  law  of  God,  and  there- 
fore the  Ministers  of  this  Church  shall  not  unite  in  matrimony 
any  person  who  is  divorced,  unless  such  divorce  have  been 
granted  on  account  of  the  adultery  of  the  other  party.  And  it 
was  also  resolved  that  the  Ministers  of  this  Church  ought  not 
to  perform  the  funeral  service  in  the  case  of  any  person  who  . 
shall  give  or  accept  a  challenge  to  a  duel.  In  1856,  in  the 
House  of  Deputies,  a  resolution  was  referred,  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  preparing  a  Canon  which  should  effectually  accom- 
plish the  objects  of  the  resolutions  of  1808,  above  cited. 

"  The  Committee  on  Canons  reported  that  it  was  inexpedient 
to  legislate  on  the  subject  of  marriage  with  a  divorced  person, 
aild  on  the  subject  of  duelling  proposed  a  Canon  forbidding  the 
reading  of  the  burial  service  over  the  body  of  one  who  had 
died  of  a  wound  received  in  a  duel,  unless  he  had  evinced  sin- 
cere repentance.     The  House  refused  to  accept  the  Canon. 

"  In  18G8  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Bishops  upon  Marriage 
and  Divorce  made  a  Report,  in  which  they  recited  the  resolu- 
tion of  1808  as  '  an  opinion  pronounced  by  the  General  Conven- 
tion,' and  submitted  a  Canon  upon  the  subject  of  Divorce. 
This  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  after  some  amendments  in 
the  other  House,  was  passed  as  it  is  now  in  force.  (See  Canon 
13,  Title  II.) 

"  The  resolution  of  1808,  as  to  marrying  a  divorced  party,  was 
as  imperative  in  language  as  the  Canon  of  1868  ;  yet  the  House 
of  Bishops  treat  it  as  an  opinion  only,  and  there  is  no  trace  in 
our  Church  annals  of  its  having  been  treated  as  a  law. 

"  Again,  we  have  a  joint  resolution  of  the  General  Convention, 
adopted  in  1865,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Church  that  it  is 
incompatible  with  the  duty,  position,  and  sacred  calling  of  the 
Clergy  to  bear  arms. 

"  The  Committee  on  Canons  had  reported  a  Canon  on  the  sub- 
ject. This  Kepoit  was  recommitted,  with  instructions  to  re- 
port, instead  of  a  Canon,  a  declaratory  resolution  in  nearly  its 
present  form. 

"  In  1874  a  joint  resolution  of  both  Houses  expresses  their 
opinion  that  the  services  are  separable. 

"  If  this  mattt^r  were  to  be  discussed  on  general  principles 
alone,  and  the  effect  of  joint  resolutions  were  to  be  now  for  the 
first  time  determined,  there  seems  to  be  no  good  reason  why  a 
joint  resolution  which  commands  or  prohibits  should  not  have, 
in  our  legislation,  the  same  force  and  effect  as  a  Canon. 


OF   THE    AMERICAN   CHURCH.  317 


"  In  many  of  the  United  States  of  America  their  Constitutions 
provide  an  enactin<r  ch\use,  and  the  use  of  tliat  is  necessary  for 
the  passage  of  a  law  in  those  States.  Our  Constitution  says 
nothing  about  an  enactinor  clause,  or  the  form  of  words  neces- 
sary to  create  a  law  or  Canon.  This  Convention  uses,  in  pass- 
ing a  Canon  and  in  passing  a  joint  resolution,  the  sime  word, 
'  resolve.'  Where  a  Canon  is  intended  to  be  passed,  the  word 
'  Canon '  is  also  used. 

"Reviewing  the  action  of  this  Convention  since  its  organiza- 
tion, in  regard  to  joint  resolutions,  we  find,  however, 

"  1.  Tliat  no  penalty  has  ever  been  provided  in  any  joint 
resolution  passed  by  it. 

"2.  That  in  Canon  2,  Title  II.,  which  sets  forth  the  offences 
for  which  Ministers  may  be  tried  and  punished,  it  is  provided 
tliat  every  Minister  may  be  tried  and  punished  for  the  violation 
of  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the  General  Convention,  but 
no  provision  is  made  for  the  violation  of  a  joint  resolution. 

"3,  That  at  different  times  one  of  the  constituent  Houses  of 
this  Convention  has,  in  direct  words,  declared  a  joint  resolution 
to  be  the  mere  expression  of  the  opinion  of  the  Convention,  and 
that  both  Houses  appear  to  have  always  given  that  construction 
to  a  joint  resolution. 

"  4,  That  tills  Convention  has  refused  to  pass  Canons  sub- 
mitted  to  it  on  certain  subjects,  and  has  passed,  immediately 
thereafter,  joint  resolutions,  in  almost  the  same  words  used  in 
the  proposed  Canons. 

"5.  That  it  has  passed  Canons  for  the  expressed  purpose  of 
putting  into  the  form  of  law  that  which  had  theretofore  been 
merely  in  the  form  of  joint  resolutions. 

"  In  view  of  these  precedents,  and  this  long-continued  and  un- 
varying construction  given  by  the  Convention  to  joint  resolu- 
tions, this  committee  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following 

"  Resolutions. 

*^  Firsty  That  the  joint  resolutions  heretofore  passed  by  the 
General  Convention  have  never  been  deemed  to  have,  and 
ought  not  to  be  construed  as  having,  the  force  of  law,  but  as 
being  merely  the  expression  of  an  opinion. 

"  Second,  That  in  view  of  the  different  doctrine  prevailing  in 
the  civil  courts  of  our  country,  and  to  remove  all  doubt  for  the 
future,  an  amendment  should  be  made  to  the  Constitution, 
which  will  require  all  future  legislation  to  be  by  Canon. 

"  Ihird,  That  a  joint  resolution  professing  to  interpret  a  law 
is  only  an  opinion,  of  great  weight  indeed,  but  not  obligatory." 

Action  in  the  matter  of  shortened  services  for 
Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  whicli  Avas  taken  by 


318        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

each  House,  failed  to  become  law  because  of  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion  as  to  the  proper  mode  of  effecting  the 
end  desired.  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the 
State  of  the  Church  noticed  the  decease  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Dr.  Johns,  Bishop  of  Virginia,  and  the  addition  of 
twelve  to  the  House  of  Bishops  duriug  the  three  years 
last  2^ast ;  the  diminislied  lists  of  candidates  for  ^'  Holy 
Orders  ;"  and  the  '^growing  indisposition  to  frequent 
the  House  of  God  on  more  than  one  occasion  of  pub- 
lic worship  each  Sunday."  The  Committee  recom- 
mended the  use  of  the  Prayer  Book  "  for  the  opening 
and  closing  of  Sunday-schools  as  the  best  means  of 
securing  the  interest  of  children  in  the  worship  of  the 
Church;"  urged  the  establishment  ''everywhere"  of 
^'  free  and  open  churches  ; "  and  called  for  the  increase 
on  the  part  of  churchmen  of  a  living,  loving  sympa- 
thy, which  smiles,  recognizes,  and  takes  by  the  hand 
the  humble,  the  ignorant,  and  the  unfortunate,  so 
that  we  may  teach  the  world  that,  like  the  Master,  we 
are  trying  to  '  seek  and  save  the  lost.' "  After  com- 
mending: the  Church's  mission  work  in  the  various 
departments  to  the  interest  and  support  of  the  faith- 
ful, the  report  thus  closed  : 

"  The  Committee  feel  that  the  Church's  great  and  important 
Council  is  closinp:  its  deliberations  under  circumstances  that 
are  exceptional  and  very  extraordinary,  which  call  for  expres- 
sions of  devoutest  praise  and  gratitude.  Kindness,  forbearance, 
courtesy,  harmony,  and  love  are  not  too  strong  words  with 
which  to  gpeak  of  our  proceedings,  intercourse,  and  acts.  We 
know  from  what  source  comes  the  influence  that  '  makes  men 
to  be  of  one  mind  in  one  house  ;'  and  we  therefore  desire  to 
ascribe  to  the  Holy  One  the  glory  of  all.  And  now,  that  we 
have  seen  what  power  is  gained  by  unity  of  action  and  f  rat<M-!ial 
concord,  let  us  take  care  that  we  do  not  again  '  fall  out  \>y  the 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  319 

way,'  but  do  our  Lord's  work  witli  mutual  good-will,  confi- 
dence, aud  love,  and  we  will  realize  the  full  blessing  of  that 
Master's  prayer,  'That  they  all  may  be  one,  as  Thou,  Father, 
art  in  Me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  Us,  that 
the  world  may  believe  that  Thou  hast  sent  Me.'  " 

The  number  of  clergy  reported^  and  certain  other 
items,  showed  a  slight  decrease  in  consequence  of  the 
failure  of  two  Dioceses  and  four  Jurisdictions  to  make 
report,  but  in  other  respects,  particularly  in  its  exhi- 
bition of  a  widespread  charity,  the  statistical  exhibit 
was.  most  encouraging,  and  called  for  devout  gratitude, 
to  God.  The  Pastoral  Letter  read  at  the  close  of  the 
session  closed  with  these  felicitous  words  : 

"  It  has  pleased  Almighty  Ood,  in  His  wise  and  wonderful 
providence,  to  place  side  by  side  on  tbis  continent  two  colonies 
of  the  most  vigorous  race  of  men.  Coming  to  America  at  pe- 
riods somewhat  distant  and  under  very  unlike  circumstances, 
yet  they  are  contiguous  to  each  other,  and  their  territories 
reach  through  many  degrees  of  latitude,  and  stretch  from  ocean 
to  ocean  across  the  continent.  The  churches  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  Dominion,  botb  deriving  their  origin  through 
tlie  Church  of  England,  and  adopting  from  lier  Reformation 
their  government,  ministry,  and  liturgy,  form  two  branches  of 
the  same  Church  of  Christ  in  North  America,  which  traces  its 
history  back  to  the  apostles'  times.  The  last  twenty-five  years 
have  brought  us  very  near  together — never  so  near  as  during 
this  session  of  our  General  Convention.  The  delegation  from 
this  sister  Charch  you  have  received  with  the  honor  and  warm 
affection  due  alike  to  their  mission  aud  their  personal  character  ; 
and  we  feel  that  they  have  left  a  benediction  behind  them. 

"  It  has  pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  to  place  in  the 
hands  of  the  two  branches  thereof  the  sacred  deposit  of  His 
word.  His  sacraments,  and  His  ministry,  to  be  used  for  the 
benefit  of  the  millions  who  are  crowding  into  Nortli  America. 
Well  may  we  exclaim,  '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?  ' 

"By  the  help  of  Almighty  God,  and  in  the  power  of  His 


320  THE   GEIsERAL   CONVENTION 

Spirit,  we  may  present  t]ie  Church  in  her  life,  her  services,  and 
her  teachings,  purely,  simply,  and  with  effect,  in  every  portion 
of  this  continent.  In  our  North  and  Southwestern  States  and 
Territories,  and  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada,  every  acre  of  land 
is  now  covered  by  the  jurisdiction  of  a  Bishop  of  the  Anglican 
Communion.  Our  Episcopal  organization  affords  us  great  ad- 
vantages. Every  movement  is  guided  by  a  wise  forecast,  and 
experience  teaches  us  that  the  rough  miner,  and  the  bold  hunts- 
man of  the  West,  when  aroused  to  a  sense  of  the  value  of  his 
soul,  easily  learns,  and  soon  prefers,  to  worship  his  reconciled 
Father  in  the  forms  of  our  liturgy. 

"  Up,  then,  brethren  !  The  land  is  large,  and  it  is  a  goodly 
land  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed.  Up  !  enter  in,  and  possess 
it." 


OF  THE    AMERICAN    CHLJRCE.  321 


THE  CONVEK"TIOX    OF  1880. 

The  General  Convention  of  1880  met  in  tlie  city 
of  New  York  under  circumstances  of  great  interest. 
There  gathered  to  attend  its  sessions  a  representa- 
tion of.  Bishops,  Clergy,  and  Laity,  larger  by  far 
than  ever  before.  The  interest  felt  abroad  in  our 
cathohcity  was  attested  by  the  presence  of  the  Et. 
Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Ilerzog,  the  Christian -Catholic 
Bishop  of  Switzerland,  who  was,  by  his  participa- 
tion in  the  services,  sacraments,  and  sessions  of  the 
Convention,  brought  into  intimate  relations  with  a 
Church,  Catholic  but  not  Roman— Protesting,  but 
neither  rationalistic  nor  infidel.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Dr. 
Henry  Cotterill,  Bishop  of  Edinburgh,  represented 
the  Church  in  Scotland,  from  which  less  than  a 
century  since  we  received  the  Apostolic  Succession 
in  the  person  of  Samuel  Seabury,  first  Bishop  of 
Connecticut.  The  Bishop  of  Huron,  the  Rt.  Rev, 
Dr.  Hellmuth,  who  was  in  attendance  with  a  depur 
tation  from  the  Canadian  Church,  also  received  a 
hearty  welcome. 

The  officers  of  both  Houses  were  the  same  as  at 
the  preceding  session,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  Edwards  Beardsley,  of  Connecticut, 
who  succeeded  to  the  Presidency  of  the  House  of 
Deputies  in  the  place  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burgess,  who 


322  'illt^    CENKiiAL   CONVENTION 

had  been  consecrated  to  the  Bishopric  of  Quincy, 
UL,  during  the  interim. 

The  Convention  assembled  for  its  opening  ser- 
vices in  St.  George's  Church,  Stuyvesant  Square, 
and  held  its  business  sessions  in  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  on  Madison  Avenue,  which,  with  its 
chapel  and  offices,  was  most  admirably  adapted  for 
the  purposes  of  the  Convention,  as  it  is  to  the 
necessities  and  activities  of  a  working  and  energetic 
parish.  At  the  opening  service  the  sermon  was 
])reached  by  the  Bishop  of  California,  Dr.  Ivip. 
Tiie  Bishop  of  Edinburgh  and  Bishop  Ilerzog,  the 
latter  vested  in  his  alb  and  richly  embroidered  cope, 
and  wearing  his  pectoral  cross,  took  part  in  the  ser- 
vices, and  united  with  the  American  Bishops  in 
the  reception  and  administration  of  the  Sacrament. 
A  marked  feature  of  this  session  was  the  prominence 
given  to  the  nn'ssion-work  of  the  Church,  several 
days  having  been  devoted  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
General  Convention  sitting  as  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions. The  Missionary  Episcopate  received  a  large 
accession  ;  the  Rev. George  K.  Dunlop,  of  Missouri, 
being  elected  to  the  jurisdiction  of  IS'"ew  Mexico 
and  Arizona,  in  place  of  the  He  v.  Dr.  Knicker- 
backer,  who  had  declined  the  appointment  ;  the 
Rev.  Legh  R.  Brewer,  of  Central  New  York,  be- 
ing elected  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Montana,  which 
was  taken  from  that  of  Utah  and  Wyonn'ng,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  A.  Paddock,  of  Long  Island,  being 
elected  Missionary  Bishop  of  Washington,  taken 
from  the  jurisdiction  of  Oregon.  A  long-deferred 
measure  of  airgressive  effort  was  undertaken  in  the 


OF    TIIH:    AMERICAN    c'llU HUH.  323 

organization  of  a  general  Chnrch-Building  Society 
on  the  plan  of  an  earlier  association,  ""  The  Western 
Chnrch-Bnilding  Society."  In  fact,  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  onr  legislation,  the  Mission- 
ary Bishops,  both  of  the  home  and  foreign  field, 
and  those  Western  Bishoj^s  into  whose  sees  the  tide 
of  immigration  is  pouring  with  unexampled  rapidity, 
found  both  a  Avelcome  and  a  hearing  in  the  presence 
of  the  representatives  of  the  Church  at  large,  and 
could  tell  the  story  of  the  spiritual  needs  of  their 
jurisdictions,  and  the  difficulties  and  trials  environ- 
ing them  in  their  arduous  work,  as  opportunity  was 
never  offered  before.  As  a  result,  the  Church  in 
Convention  assembled  awoke  to  a  desire,  and  in- 
augurated efforts,  to  make  herself  the  Church  of  the 
land  and  the  Church  of  the  people,  entering  w^ith 
full  purpose  of  heart  and  greater  vigor  than  ever 
before  into  the  work  of  missions  at  home,  abroad, 
everywhere. 

The  advantages  arising  from  the  sitting  together 
of  tlie  two  Houses  of  the  Convention  as  a  Board  of 
Missions  were  utilized  to  bring  before  the  Church 
the  need  of  a  more  adequate  provision  for  the  aged 
and  infirm  clergy  and  for  the  families  of  deceased 
ministers  ;  while  the  permission  granted  to  the  com- 
mittees of  the  two  Houses  having  in  charge  impor- 
tant subjects  in  common,  to  meet  together  for  their 
consideration,  proved  of  essential  service  in  short- 
ening debates  and  expediting  business  when  the  re- 
ports were  under  discussion  in  the  respective  Houses. 

The  following  important  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion, adopted  in  the  House  of  Bishops,   was  fol- 


o2-l  THK   GENERAL   CONVENTION 

lowed  by  the  appointment  of  a  joint  committee  to 
make  arrangements  for  a  fitting  observance  of  the 
liistoric  events  thus  noticed  : 

"  Wltereas,  Prior  to  the  next  session  of  the  General  Convention, 
the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  theeailiest  at! empts  for  organ- 
ization on  the  part  of  the  clergy  of  the  Ameiican  Church  will 
occur,  to  wit.  the  centennial  of  the  election  by  the  clergy  of  llie 
first  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  at  Woodbury,  on  the  25th  of  March, 
1783,  and  the  meeting  of  the  clergy  of  Maryland  at  Washington 
College,  May  13-15,  1783,  and  that  on  the  13th  of  August  in  the 
same  year  in  which  the  Declaration  of  Fundamental  Rights  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Maryland  was  enacted  ; 
and  ichereas,  theie  will  occur  in  the  following  triennium  the 
one  hundredth  anniversaries  of  the  first  convention  of  clergy 
and  laity  held  in  this  country,  to  wit,  that  assembled  in  Christ 
Church.  Philadelphia,  May  24,  1784,  and  the  more  general 
meeting  of  representatives  of  the  Church  in  a  number  of  States 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  October  O-D,  1784,  the  consecration 
of  the  first  Bishop  of  Connecticut  at  the  hands  of  the  bishops 
of  the  Church  in  Scotland,  November  14,  1781,  and  the  first 
Geneial  Convention  of  the  Church  in  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States  in  September  and  October,  1785  ;  and  in  the  following 
triennium  the  consecrations  of  the  first  Bishops  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  York  in  the  chapel  at  Lambeth,  February  4, 
1787,  the  completion  of  organization  of  the  American  Church 
by  the  union  of  all  its  members  in  the  Convention  of  1789  on 
the  2d  of  October,  and  the  adoption  of  its  general  ecclesiastical 
constitution  and  the  completion  of  its  apostolic  college  ;  and, 
whereax,  it  is  eminently  fitting  that  a  period  at  once  so  interest- 
ing and  important  should  be  made  the  occasion  of  solemn 
thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,  and  opportunity  should  be 
afforded  for  the  general  lec;  ption  of  the  grateful  offerings  of 
the  people  of  God  ;  therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  the  whole  subject  of  our  approaching  centen- 
nial anniversaries  be  committed  to  a  committee  of  this  House 
to  prepare  and  report  on  plans  for  the  suitable  commemoration 
of  these  historical  events,  the  said  plans,  when  reported,  to  be 
communicated  to  the  House  of  Deputies  for  their  approval  and 
CO  operation." 


OF    THE    AMERICAN    CHUKCH.  325 

An  important  report  on  the  functions  of  rectors 
and  wardens  and  vestrymen,  in  the  control  and  ad- 
ministration of  parishes,  presented  in  tlie  House  of 
Bishops  by  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
House  of  Deputies  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Dix,  laid  down 
the  following  ^'  few  plain  principles  :" 

"  1st.  The  Church  existed  before  any  parishes. 

"  2d.  The  clergy  was  set  apart,  as  an  order,  before  any 
parishes  existed. 

"3d.  The  Church  and  the  ministry  are  divine  in  their  ori- 
gin, perpetual  in  their  existence,  and  essential  to  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 

"  4th.  The  parish  is  purely  a  human  institution,  organized 
diversely  in  diverse  lands,  a  creature  of  civil  law  or  conven- 
tional arrangement,  having  no  divine  authority  or  obligation. 

"  5th.  The  wardens  and  vestry  are  not,  and  cannot  lawfully 
or  scripturally  be,  masters  and  rulers  of  the  clergy,  but  they 
are  auxiliary  to  the  clergy  as  important  adjuncts  and  aids  in 
the  work  in  which  they  have  been  set  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 

This  report  recommended  that  in  each  diocese  the 
rector  should  be  the  head  of  the  corporation,  and 
that  the  wardens  and  a  majority  at  least  of  the 
vestrymen  should  be  communicants  ;  it  also  advo- 
cated that  the  Bishops  should  have  ^^some  concur- 
rent action  with  the  vestry  in  the  choice  of  the  minis- 
ter,"  and  closed  Avitli  the  following  opinions,  to  wit  : 

"  First.  As  to  the  functions  of  the  rector  in  the  control  and 
administration  of  parishes. 

"  1st.  The  rector  has  control  over  the  church  buildings  so 
far  as  it  respects  the  use  of  them  as  places  of  worship  and  for 
carrying  on  the  necessary  parochial  work  of  the  parish. 

"  2d.  The  rector  is  the  head  of  the  parish— its  head  ecclesi- 
astically and  its  head  legally,  except  where  otherwise  stated  by 
the  law  of  the  State  or  the  charter  of  the  church  or  parish,  and 
he  should,  therefore,  when  present,  preside  at  vestry  meetings. 


326        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

"  3d.  The  rector  has  the  right  to  claim  and  enjoy  '  the  ac- 
customed temporalities  of  tlie  Churcii,'  as  stipulated  at  the 
lime  of  his  settlement  or  call,  and  which  constitute  a  virtual 
contract  of  full  legal  and  moral  force  binding  upon  both  parties. 

**  4th.  The  rector  is  responsible  for  the  due  discharge  of 
his  official  duties  and  clerical  conduct  to  the  ecclesiastical 
authority  of  the  diocese  only — a  fact  thus  stated  in  the  Institu- 
tion Office  when  it  charges  the  Instituted  Minister  to  bear  in 
mind  that  he  is  '  accountable  to  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of 
the  Church  here  and  to  the  Chief  Bishop  and  Sovereign  Judge 
of  all  hereafter,'  and  any  complaint  against  a  rector  in  refer- 
ence to  his  teaching  or  ministeiing  must  be  made  to  the  Ordi- 
nary of  the  Diocese. 

"  Second.  As  to  the  functions  of  wardens  and  vestries. 
These  are,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  : 

*'  1st.  That  they  have  the  charge  and  guardianship  of  all  the 
corporate  rights  and  property  of  the  parish,  as  specified  by 
Stale  legislation  or  churcli  charters,  or  diocesan  canons. 

"  2d.  That  they  have  the  right  to  elect  a  rector  or  assistant 
minister,  and  to  ask  (under  the  provision  of  §  1,  Can.  14,  Title 
1)  to  have  him,  if  the  bishop  be  so  disposed,  '  instituted  accord- 
ing to  the  office  established  by  this  Church,  if  that  office  be 
used  in  the  diocese.' 

"  3d.  That  they  are  legally  and  morally  bound  to  secure  to 
the  rector  or  minister  the  accustomed  temporalities  of  the 
Church  set  apart  for  his  proper  maintenance  and  support. 

"4th.  That  they  are  to  aid  the  rector,  by  all  the  secular 
means  at  their  command,  in  maintaining  the  services  of  the 
Church,  and  the  other  usual  agencies  for  strengthening  and  en- 
larging the  parish. 

"  5th.  That  in  order  to  discharge  these  functions  connected 
with  the  House  of  God,  the  support  of  the  ministry  and  the 
worship  of  the  Church,  it  is  eminently  proper  that  those  only 
should  be  intrusted  with  such  solemn  duties  who  are  them- 
selves communicants  of  the  Church,  and  who  feel  the  spiritual 
as  well  as  the  legal  responsibility  resting  upon  them." 

In  direct  legislation,  such  as  changes  in  the 
Canons,  little  was  done.     Canon  9  of  Title- III., 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  327 

^^  Of  the  Constitution  of  tlie  Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Cimrcli  in  the  United  States  of  America,"  was 
amended  so  as  to  inchide  as  members  of  the  Board 
of  Missions  the  delegates  from  the  Missionary  Juris- 
diction to  the  House  of  Deputies,  and  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  with  the  secretaries  and 
treasurers  of  the  two  committees.  Some  other 
fihght  modifications  of  this  Canon  were  adopted. 
Section  II.  of  Canon  1  of  Title  III.,  defining  the 
duties  of  the  Registrar,  was  also  amended  so  as  to 
provide  with  more  care  for  the  safety  of  the 
archives  of  the  Church  and  the  record  of  Episcopal 
consecrations.  An  additional  section  (Section  lY.) 
was  added  to  Canon  1  of  Title  11. ,  declaring  it  '^  to 
be  the  duty  of  all  members  of  the  Church  to  attend 
and  give  evidence  when  duly  summoned  to  do  so  in 
any  ecclesiastical  trial  or  investigation  under  the 
authority  of  this  Church. "  Provision  was  made  for 
shortened  services  by  the  ado2)tion  of  the  following 
resolution,  looking  to  the  amendment  of  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  ratification  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer  be  amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows,  and  that  such  pro- 
posed amendment  be  made  known  to  the  several  Diocesan 
Conventions,  in  order  that  it  may  be  adopted  in  the  next  Gen- 
eral Convention  according  to  Article  8  of  the  Constitution  : 

"the  ratification  of  the  book  of  common  pkayeb. 

"  By  the  Bishops,  the  Clergy,  and  the  Laity  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  General 
Convention  assembled  : 

"  The  General  Convention  of  this  Church  having  heretofore. 


328        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

to  wit,  on  the  IGlh  day  of  Oclobcr,  a  d.  1789,  set  forth  and 
established  A  Book  of  Common  Pia3er  and  Admiuistialion  of 
the  Rites  and  Ceiemonies  of  the  Chuich,  and  declared  it  to  be 
the  Liturg-y  of  this  Church,  and  required  that  it  be  received 
as  such  by  all  the  members  of  the  same,  and  be  in  use  from 
and  after  the  1st  day  of  October,  a.d.  1790,  the  same  book  is 
hereby  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  ordered  to  be  the  use  of  this 
Church  from  this  time  forth. 

"  But  note,  however,  that  on  days  ether  than  Sunday, 
Christmas  Day,  the  Epiphany,  Ash  Wednesday,  Good  Friday, 
and  the  Ascension  'Day,  it  shall  suliiee  if  the  minister  begin 
Morning  or  Evening  Prayer  at  the  General  Confession  or  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  preceded  by  one  or  more  of  the  sentences  ap- 
pointed at  the  beginning  of  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  and 
end  after  the  Collect  for  Grace  or  the  Collect  for  Aid  against 
Perils,  with  2  Cor.  13,  14,  using  so  much  of  the  lessons  ap- 
pointed for  the  day  and  so  much  of  the  Psalter  as  shall  be  for 
edification. 

"  And  note,  also,  that  en  any  day  when  Morning  and  Even- 
ing Prayer  shall  have  been  duly  said,  or  are  to  be  said,  and 
upon  days  other  than  those  first  aforementioned,  it  shall  suflice, 
when  need  may  require,  if  a  Sermon  or  Lecture  be  preceded 
by  at  least  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  one  or  more  Collects  found 
in  this  book,  provided  that  no  prayers  not  set  forth  in  said 
book  shall  be  used  before  or  after  such  sermon  or  lecture. 
And  note  further,  also,  that  on  any  day  the  Morning  Prayer, 
the  Litany,  or  the  Order  for  the  Administration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  may  be  used  as  a  separate  and  independent  service,  pro- 
vided that  no  one  of  these  services  shall  be  disused  habitually." 

The  Convention  gave  its  consent  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  federate  council,  composed  of  tlie  three  di- 
oceses within  the  State  of  Ilhnois,  and  approved  of 
the  exercise  by  it  of  the  following  powers  : 

"  1st.  The  charge  and  care  of  such  educational  and  charitable 
institutions  as  it  may  canonically  establish,  or  as  may  be  placed 
under  its  jurisdiction. 

"  2d.  The  charge  and  conduct  of  matters  pertaining  to  the 
extension  of  the  Church,  such  as  the  work  of  church  building 


OF   THE   AMERICAN   CHURCH.  329 

and  the  assistance  of  feeble  parishes  and  missions,  so  far  as 
these  matters  may  be  intrusted  to  it. 

"3d.  The  acceptance  and  administration  of  all  funds  and 
donations  of  any  kind  which  may  be  given  or  intrusted  to  it. 

"4th.  And  the  said  federate  council  shall  have  full  power  to 
enact  all  regulations  necessary  to  its  organization  and  continu- 
ance,  and  to  the  ends  contemplated  by  the  foregoing  declara- 
tion, not  inconsistent  with  or  repugnant  to  the  constitution  or 
canons  of  the  General  Conventions  of  this  Church  or  of  any 
one  of  the  dioceses  concerned,  or  to  the  law  of  the  rubric  as 
contained  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  and  offices  of  this 
Church." 

The  name  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Relations  and  Religious  Reform  was  changed  to 
the  Commission  on  Ecclesiastical  Relations  ;  and 
that  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Christian  Education 
to  that  of  "  Education  under  the  Auspices  and  Con- 
trol of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church."     It  was 

"  Resolved,  That  a  joint  committee,  to  consist  of  seven 
Bishops,  seven  presbyters,  and  seven  laymen,  be  appointed  to 
consider  and  report  to  the  next  General  Convention  whether,  iu 
view  of  the  fact  that  this  Church  is  about  to  enter  upon  the 
second  century  of  its  organized  existence  in  this  country,  the 
changed  conditiuns  of  the  national  life  do  uot~  demand  altera- 
tions in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  in  the  direction  of  liturgi- 
cal enrichment  and  increased  flexibility  of  use." 

Under  this  resolution  the  following  committee 
was  appointed  :  The  Bishops  of  Connecticut,  Al- 
bany, Western  N"ew  York,  Pennsylvania,  Easton, 
Central  New  York,  and  Florida  ;  the  Rev.  Drs.  Hun- 
tington of  Massachusetts,  Dalrymple  of  Maryland, 
Goodwin  of  Pennsylvania,  Dix  of  Kew  York,  Har- 
wood  of  Connecticut,  Garrison  of  New  Jersey, 
Haiison  of  Albany  ;  Messrs.  Fish  of  New  York, 
Coppee  of  Central  Pennsylvania,   Sheffey  of  Yir- 


330  IHE    GENEKAL    CONVE2s'TIOX 

ginia,  Wilder  of  Minnesota,  Andrews  of  Southern 
Ohio,  J.  M.  Smith  of  Western  New  York,  and 
Burg  win  of  Pittsburg. 

The  following  resolution  in  regard  to  the  exist- 
ence of  polygamy  in  the  Territory  of  Utah  was 
passed  : 

"  WTiereas,  The  work  of  the  Church  of  Christ  and  the 
best  interests  of  the  Christian  civilizatiai  are  seiiously  im- 
peded in  one  of  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  by  the  ex- 
istence of  polygamy,  recognized  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
community  as  a  religious  institution  ;  and  whereas,  polygamy 
is  not  only  contrary  to  the  law  of  God,  but  is  also  forbidden 
under  severe  penalties  in  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  by 
act  of  Congress,  which  act  has  been  declared  constitutional  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  ;  therefore,  be  it 

"  Res  lived,  That  while  there  are  peculiar  difficulties  in  the 
execution  of  this  law,  owing  to  the  religious  fanaticism  by 
which  tiie  institution  of  polygamy  is  upheld,  and  especially  to 
the  fact  that  the  interests  of  many  innocent  persons  are  unhap- 
pily involved,  it  is  still  the  duty  of  every  Christian  and  every 
citizen  of  this  republic  to  use  what  influence  he  can  to  bring 
about,  as  speedily  as  possible,  a  merciful  but  firm  enforcement 
of  the  law  in  regard  to  polygamy,  or  bigamy,  in  the  Territory 
of  Utah." 

A  joint  committee  was  appointed  ^'to  observe 
what  action  is  taken  by  government  for  extending 
to  the  Indians  legal  protection  of  their  civil  rights, 
and  placing  them  under  obedience  to  the  law,  to 
promote  by  sucli  measures  as  the  committee  shall 
deem  expedient  legislation  suitable  to  accomplish 
those  ends,  and  report  from  time  to  time  w^iat  action 
shall  have  been  had  in  the  premises." 

It  was  resolved  that  ' '  the  evangelical  hymns  as 
they  stand  in  the  English  Prayer-Book — to  wit,  the 
Mdgnijlcat^  the  Song  of  8imeon^  and  that  of  Zacha- 


OF   THE    AMEKICAX   CHURCH.  331 

rias — be  added  to  the  Hymnal  at  the  end  of  the 
hymns  in  metre."  The  boundaries  of  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Niobrara  and  those  of  the  dioceses  of 
Wisconsin  and  Fond  du  Lac  were  shghtly  changed. 
Tables  of  Lessons  were  set  forth  and  permitted  to 
be  used  as  alternative  for  the  lessons  now  appointed 
in  the  Prayer-Book  Lectionary.  A  Canon,  to  be 
munbered  Canon  12  of  Title  IL,  "  On  the  Godly 
Discipline  of  the  Laity,"  was  referred  to  the  next 
Convention. 

The  following  minute  was  placed  upon  the 
records  of  the  House  of  Bishops  : 

"  A  meeting  of  Bishops  having  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction, 
duly  convened,  and  acting  under  [3],  Section  XVI.,  Canon  15, 
Title  I.,  of  the  Digest,  was  held  August  28th,  1878,  and  on 
several  successive  days  by  adjournment. 

"  On  September  8d  a  majority  of  all  the  Bishops  recognized 
in  the  Canon  as  above  quoted  being  present  and  acting,  the 
Presiding  Bishup  presented  the  resignation  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Samuel  A.  McCoskry,  Bishop  of  Michigan,  of  his  jurisdiction 
and  oflSce.  The  same  was  referred  to  a  committee,  and,  after 
their  report,  was  unanimously  accepted,  and  the  bishopric  of 
the  Diocese  of  Michigan  declared  to  be  vacant. 

"(Signed)  Alfred  Lee, 

"  Presiding  i?i  the  Eouse  of  BisJiops." 

The  House  of  Bishops  ordered  the  publication  of 

the  following  : 

COVENANT. 

"  In  the  Name  of  the  M(«st  Holy  and  Undivided  Trinity, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  Amen. 
*'  The  following  Covenant  or  Articles  of  Agreement,  Concord 
and  Union,  between  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  of  the  first  part,  and 
the  Mexican  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  our  Lord  Jesus 


332        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Christ,  JMilitant  upon  earth,  of  the  second  part,  establishes  tho 
ensuing  stipulations,  mutually  entered  into  by  the  two 
Churches  aforesaid  : 

ARTICLE    I. 

"  The  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  la  the 
United  S(ates  of  America,  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that 
nearly  all  the  clergy  and  members  of  the  said  Mexican  Church 
owe  no  allegiance  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  but  are  Mexican  citizens,  do  heieby  recognize  the 
aforesaid  Mexican  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Militant  upon  earth,  as  of  right,  as  also  in  point 
of  fact,  a  Foreign  Church,  to  all  intents  and  purposes  within 
the  meaning  of  the  Tenth  Article  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

"  But  while  the  aforesaid  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States  do  thus  recognize  the  said 
Mexican  Church  to  be  a  Foreign  Church,  yet  during  its  early 
growth  and  development  it  shall  continue  to  enjoy  the  nurs- 
ing care  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States,  until  the  said  Mexican  Church  shall  attain  to  a 
sufficiency  in  its  Episcopate  for  the  administration  of  its  own 
affairs,  according  to  the  requirements  of  the  ancient  canons 
and  primitive  usages  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

ARTICLE   II. 

"  The  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  tho 
United  States,  acting  under  the  aforesaid  Tenth  Article  of  the 
Constitution,  and  relying  upon  the  stipulations  contained  in 
the  following  Articles  of  the  Covenant,  agree  to  consecrate  to 
the  office  of  Bishop  one  or  more  persons  duly  elected  by  the 
said  Mexican  branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  Militant  upon  earth,  after  receiving  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  their  election  by  the  said  Church,  and  of  their  fitness 
and  qualifications  for  such  a  high  and  holy  vocation. 

ARTICLE   III. 

"  The  Bishops  of  the  Protestani  Episcopal  Church  in  the 


OF  THE   AMERICAN    CHUKCH.  333 

United  States  furthermore  agree  to  name  from  among  them- 
selves a  commission  of  seven  Bishops  with  whom  tlie  aforesaid 
Bishop  or  Bishops  to  be  consecrated  for  the  said  Mexican 
Church  shall  be  associated  as  a  temporary  Board  of  Adminis- 
tration for  the  Episcopal  government  of  the  said  Mexican 
Church.  A  majority  of  the  same  shall  be  competent  to  take 
order  for  the  consecration  of  future  Bishops  of  said  Church, 
as  the  necessity  may  arise  in  the  demand  of  said  Church.  The 
said  temporary  Board  of  Administration  shall  be  furthermore 
empowered  to  administer  all  the  discipline  pertaining  to  the 
Episcopal  Order  of  the  Ministry  of  said  Church,  until  at  least 
three  Bishops  shall  be  elected,  consecrated,  and  canonically 
established  in  the  said  Church  ;  it  being  understood  that  the 
temporary  Board  of  Administration  shall  be  governed  in  the 
exercise  of  their  Episcopal  administration,  judgments,  and 
acts,  by  the  provisions  contained  in  the  Constitution  and 
Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  so  far  as  the  same  can  be  applied  to  the  divergent 
circumstances  of  the  said  Mexican  Church,  and  are  consistent 
with  ils  rights  and  privileges  as  a  distinct  National  Church. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

"  The  Mexican  branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Militant  upon  earth,  assures  and  certifies  the 
Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  that  it  receives  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  including  all  the  books  called  canonical,  as  they 
are  enumerated  in  the  Sixth  Article  of  Religion  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  (excluding  those  commonly  called 
apocryphal)  as  the  Word  of  God,  and  containing  all  things 
necessary  to  salvation  ;  that  it  prof  esses  the  Catholic  and  Apos- 
tolic Faith  as  set  forth  in  the  words  of  the  Apostles'  andNicene 
Creeds  ;  that  it  receives  and  observes  the  two  Sacraments  of 
Baptism  and  the  Supper  of  the  Lord,  ordained  by  Christ  Him- 
self, and  none  others  ;  that  it  holds  that,  from  the  Apostles' 
times,  there  have  been  these  Orders  of  the  Ministry,  Bishops, 
Presbyters,  and  Deacons,  and  desires  to  perpetuate  them  for 
itself  ;  that  it  rejects  the  errors,  novelties,  and  superstitions  of 
the  Church  of  Rome,  as  the  same  are  set  forth  and  rejected  by 


334-  TBE    GENERAL   CONVENTION 

the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  in  her 
Articles  of  Rylit!:ion,  as  well  as  such  as  have  been  introduced 
since  the  date  of  framing  such  Articles  ;  and  the  said  Mexican 
Church  further  covenants  not  to  receive  or  establish  any  doc- 
trines or  articles  of  belief  contrary  to  the  doctrines  held  by  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  and  set 
forth  in  its  formularies. 

ARTICLE  V. 

*'  The  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  further- 
more agree  to  consider  such  testimonials  of  (iharacter  and  qual- 
ification for  the  Episcopate  sufficient  in  form  as  shall  be  equiv- 
alent to  the  formulated  testimonials  required  by  the  Bishops  of 
the  Church  of  England,  before  they  conveyed  the  Episcopate 
to  this  Church. 

ARTICLE   VI. 

"  (1.)  And  for  the  preservation  of  the  common  faith  and  of 
the  doctrines  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  said  Mexican  Church  binds 
itself  to  prepare  a  Service  Book  for  Public  Worship,  and  for 
the  administration  of  C-mfirmation  and  other  sacred  rites,  the 
Apostles'  Creed  and  the  Creed  commonly  called  Nicene  being 
therein  included  ;  the  said  Service  Book  to  conform  in  its 
essential  features  to  the  formularies  of  Primitive  and  Apostolic 
Churches,  and  to  be  approved  by  the  Commission  of  Bishops 
in  this  Covenant  established  ;  and  the  said  Church  further 
binds  itself  to  require  a  profession  of  faith  in  the  terms  of  the 
creeds  aforesaid  as  a  condition  for  admission  to  Holy  Orders. 

"  (3.)  And  the  said  Mexican  Church  in  her  office  for  the  Ad- 
ministration of  Holy  Baptism,  will  preserve  such  a  due  scrip- 
tural presentation  of  the  authority  andintcntof  that  sacrament, 
■with  the  use  of  the  matter  and  form  prescribed  by  our  Divine 
Lord  and  Master,  as  shall  be  satisfactory  to  the  Bishops  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  or  to  the  Commission  of  Bishops 
by  them  appointed, 

"  (3.)  And  in  lier  office  for  the  Administration  of  the  I^ord's 
Supper,  the  said  Mexican  Church  will  preserve  such  liturgical 
forms  as  are  essential  thereto  ;  that  is  to  say,  particularly  a  due 
scriptural  presentation  of  the  authority  and  intent  of  that  sac- 
rament, with  the  use  of  the  matter  and  form  prescribed  by 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.  335 

our  Divine  Master  and  Lnrd.  and  with  such  further  provisions 
as  shall  render  said  office  conformable  to  the  general  outline 
and  spirit  of  the  Primitive  Liturgies  in  the  judgment  of  the 
Bishops  aforesaid,  or  of  the  Commission  of  Bishops  by  them 
appointed. 

"  3.  Resolved,  That  the  commission  to  be  appointed  for  that 
purpose  (namely,  what  is  now  commonly  known  as  the  Mexi- 
can Commission)  is  hereby  empowered  to  correspond  with  the 
representatives  of  the  Mexican  branch  of  the  Cnlholic  Church 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Clirist,  Militant  tipon  earth,  in  oider  to  the 
final  ratification  of  the  afore-recounted  Articles  of  Agreement. 
"  4.  Resolved,  That  when  such  ratification  shall  have  taken 
place,  the  commission  aforesaid  is  hereby  empowered  to  re- 
ceive, examine,  and  report  to  the  Presiding  Bishop  upon  the 
evidences  of  election,  and  testimonials  of  qualifications  of  the 
person  or  persons  presented  by  the  synodical  authority  of  the 
Mexican  branch  and  for  Ordination  to  the  Episc(;pate. 

"  5.  Resolved,  That  the  Presiding  Bishop  is  hereby  requested 
and  empowered  when  he  shall  have  received  any  such  report 
from  the  said  commission,  to  take  order  for  the  consecration 
of  such  person  or  persons  as  may  be  repoited  to  him  by  said 
commission  as  duly  elect  and  qualified." 

It  was  reported  that  under  this  "  Covenant,"  the 
Bishop-elect  of  the  Yalley  of  Mexico,  Dr.  H.  C. 
Eiley,  had  been  consecrated,  and  that  a  tentative 
liturgy  had  been  introduced  which  required  amend- 
ment to  bring  it  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and 
spirit  of  Article  YI.  of  the  Covenant.  The  Com- 
mission was  re-constituted  as  follows — viz.,  the 
Bishops  of  Delaware,  Connecticut,  Ohio,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Western  New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Long  Island, 
and  Albany,  and  the  following  resolution  adopted  : 

••  Resolved,  That  the  Bishops  are  in  accord  with  the  Bishops 
of  said  commission  in  the  policy  they  suggest  touching  the 
future  administration  of  the  matters  in  question,  and  do  accord- 
ingly heartily  concur  with  the  said  commission  in  their  judg- 
ment, that  no  order  should  be  taken  for  the  consecration  of  an- 


336        THE  GENERAL  CONVENTION 

Other  Bishop  in  Mexico,  until  the  Bishop  already  consecrated 
shall  have  actually  entered  upon  his  work,  and  until  the  terms 
of  the  Covenant  touching  the  preparation  of  a  Liturgy  shall 
have  been  duly  complied  with,  and  until  the  approbation  of  a 
majority  of  the  Bishops  of  this  Church  to  any  such  consecra- 
tion shall  have  been  signified  to  the  Presiding  Bishop,  that  he 
may  take  order  for  the  same." 

In  the  commendation  of  work  among  the  colored 
people,  and  the  adoption  of  a  scheme  of  systematic 
heneficence  for  missionary  offerings  ;  in  the  consid- 
eration of  the  grave  questions  of  provinces,  of  the 
tenure  of  church  property  and  of  graduated  repre- 
sentation in  the  General  Convention  ;  in  the  discus- 
sion of  the  subjects  of  Appellate  Courts  and  further 
legislation  respecting  divorce  ;  in  the  refusal  to  ad- 
mit Dakota  as  a  diocese,  and  to  sanction  the  elec- 
tion of  an  Assistant  Bishop  for  Yirginia  ;  in  the  de- 
bates with  reference  to  the  proposed  revision  of  the 
Bible  and  the  important  questions  respecting  Dea- 
conesses and  Sisterhoods,  the  Convention  showed  its 
wisdom  quite  as  much  in  its  failure  to  act  as  in  its 
direct  legislation.  Party  spirit  found  no  opportu- 
nity for  its  display  ;  and  in  practical  work  and  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  spiritual  good  and  growth  of 
the  Church  the  days  of  this  important  session  were 
passed.  The  ' '  Pastoral ' '  read  at  the  close  of  the 
session  reiterated  the  lessons  of  practical  godliness 
so  often  enjoined  in  these  apostolic  letters,  and 
urged  upon  the  members  of  our  communion  to 
make  fresh  efforts  to  enter  in  and  possess  the  land 
for  Christ  and  His  Church.  With  its  closing  words 
of  benediction  the  General  Convention  of  1880  ad- 
journed sine  die.  ^ 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHUHCH.  337 


THE   CONYENTIOK   OF   1883. 

The  next  trienuial  General  Convention  will 
meet  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  at  a  period  in 
the  history  of  the  American  Church  confessedly 
epochal.  Its  assembling  will  mark  the  centennial 
of  the  meeting  of  the  Connecticut  clergy  in  the 
spring  of  1783,  at  which  the  apostolic  Seabnry  was 
chosen  to  seek  abroad  the  Episcopate,  which  the 
Mother  Church  of  England  had  for  a  century  persist- 
ently refused  to  bestow  upon  the  Colonial  Church. 
It  also  marks  the  completion  of  a  hundred  years 
since  in  Maryland,  at  a  convention  of  clergy  under 
the  leadership  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  William  Smith, 
measures  for  organization  were  taken,  and  the 
leading  spirit  of  them  all  was  designated  by  his 
brethren  to  the  Episcopate  he  was  never  to  receive. 
The  little  one  has  become  a  great  people,  and  the 
x\merican  Church,  after  a  century  of  independent 
and  autonomous  life,  enters  upon  its  second  hun- 
dred years  with  the  purpose  and  the  prospect  of  be- 
coming: in  fact  as  well  as  in  name  the  Church  of  the 
nation.  With  added  influence  and  increasing 
opportunities,  fresh  responsibilities  are  of  necessity 
connected.  The  Convention  will  have  to  meet  at 
the  outset  the  grave  questions  which  will  be  brought 
to  its  attention  in  the  report  of  the  Joint  Commit- 
tee on  Liturgical  Enrichment,  proposing  a  flexibility 


o38  THE    GENERAL    CONVENTIOX 

in  tlic  use,  and  increase  in  tlie  number,  of  our  for- 
mularies, wliicli  cannot  fail  to  elicit  abundant  discus- 
sion and  compel  tlie  most  patient  thought.  The 
relations  of  rectors  and  vestries  will  demand  careful 
consideration,  in  view  of  the  all  but  universal  admis- 
sion that  there  now  exist  between  the  pastor  and  his 
people  grounds  of  difference  of  the  most  serious 
and  portentous  nature.  The  question  of  securing  a 
Bishop  for  each  Territory  will  also  demand  consid- 
eration, and  will  doubtless  receive  favorable  action. 
The  subject  of  the  validity  of  Moravian  Orders  will 
form  tlie  subject  of  a  carefully  considered  report, 
which  is  awaited  with  no  little  interest.  The  revision 
of  the  course  of  theological  study,  and  the  cumber- 
some and  somewhat  inconsistent  canons  of  ordination 
will,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  be  definitely  acted  upon. 
The  canon  on  the  Godly  Discipline  of  the  Laity, 
referred  to  this  Convention  by  the  last,  and  offer- 
ing the  results  of  the  most  patient  examination  and 
consideration  of  the  House  of  Bishops  during 
several  days'  debate,  will  be  again  considered. 
Final  action  will  be  had  on  the  provision  for  Short- 
ened Services  by  means  of  an  amendment  to  the 
form  of  ratification  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 
The  legislation  reported  by  the  joint  committee  on 
the  subject  of  prohibited  degrees  of  afiinity  and 
kindred,  will  receive  attention.  The  canon  pro- 
posed by  the  last  Convention  on  the  subject  of 
Episcopal  Eesignations  will  be  discussed.  The 
canon,  "  Of  Organized  Eeligious  Societies  within 
the  Church,"  to  be  numbered  Canon  6  of  Title  III., 
which  was  adopted  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  but 


OF   THE   AMERICAN    CHURCH.       -  339 

failed  of  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  lower 
House,  will  be  considered.  The  revision  of  the 
Bible  will  again  claim  the  notice  of  the  Convention. 
The  whole  matter  of  joint  resolutions  will  be 
brought  before  the  two  Houses,  and  the  question 
''  whether  the  day  on  which  the  House  of  Bishops 
sits  as  a  part  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  is  to  be  con- 
sidered as  one  of  the  three  days  in  which  the  House 
can  consider  the  action  coming  to  it  from  the  House 
of  Deputies. "  Provision  will  also  be  made  "for 
the  full  and  proper  observance  of  the  centennial  an- 
niversaries of  the  consecrations  of  the  first  Bishops 
of  Connecticut,  Pennsjdvania,  and  New  York,  and 
the  completion  of  the  organization  of  the  General 
Convention,  the  ratification  of  our  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  and  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  Church,"  and  also  "  for  such  general  observ- 
ances of  these  important  anniversaries,  and  such 
general  thank-offerings  to  Almighty  God,  for  His 
great  goodness  to  us  as  a  Church  and  a  people,  as 
shall  mark  the  period  embracing  the  years  1883  to 
1889  as  an  epoch  of  grateful  praise  and  beneficence 
to  be  ever  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  Church 
of  Christ." 

We  may  reasonably  anticipate  that  the  exciting 
questions  which  have  occupied  the  time  of  the  Con- 
vention prior  to  the  last,  to  the  exclusion  of  many 
important  matters  of  a  practical  nature,  will  not  be 
made  prominent  in  this  interesting  meeting  of  the 
Church.  The  active  and  aggressive  nature  of  the 
last  Convention,  its  earnest  missionary  spirit,  and 
the  impetus  given  by  its  debates  and  measures  to  the 


340        THE  GEXEKAL  CONVENTION. 

Chiircli's  advance,  give  lis  hope  that  t}ie  eeiiteiinial 
session  of  Convention  will  prove  equally  fruitful  in 
its  practical  results  and  in  the  adoption  of  wise 
measures  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of 
Christ. 

In  view  of  the  importance  of  these  triennial  gath- 
erings, who  of  the  members  of  the  Church  will  not 
devoutly  pray  to  Him  who  by  His  Holy  Spirit  did 
preside  in  the  councils  of  the  blessed  Apostles,  and 
who  has  promised  through  His  Son  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  to  be  with  His  Church  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  that  this  Council  of  the  Church  may  be  saved 
'^  from  all  error,  ignorance,  pride,  and  prejudice," 
and  so  directed,  sanctified,  and  governed  in  their 
work  "  that  the  comfortable  gospel  of  Christ  may 
be  truly  preached,  truly  received,  truly  followed  in 
all  places,  to  the  breaking  down  the  kingdom  of 
sin,  Satan,  and  death." 


X 


APPENDIX.  341 


APPENDIX. 


23,127 


I. 

SUMMARY    OF    STATISTICS    OF   CHURCH   PROGRESS. 

No  summaries  are  appended  to  the  Journals  prior 
to  the  year  1832.  From  that  date  they  have,  with 
more  or  less  accuracy  in  detail,  been  furnished,  and 
are  here  reproduced,  giving,  as  they  do,  the  items 
of  Church  progress  for  nearly  half  a  century— 1829- 
1877. 

1832. 
Clergy  reported  in  18  Dioceses 592 

(  Adults  in  14  Dioceses 3,394  ) 

Baptisms,  -j  Infants  in  14  Dioceses 19,138  [•  .  . 

(  JS'ot  specified  in  2  Dioceses. .        595  ) 

Communicants  added  in  12  Dioceses 8,735 

Total  of  Communicants  in  16  Dioceses 30,939 

Marriages  in  13  Dioceses 5,449 

Burials  in  13  Dioceses 11,060 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  10  Dioceses 1,743 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  14  Dioceses 24,218 

1835. 

Clergy  in  19  Dioceses 763 

(  Adults  in  11  Dioceses 2,021  ) 

Baptisms,  ^  Infants  in  11  Dioceses 10,371  V 21,849 

(  Not  specified  in  9  Dioceses. .  .   9,457  ) 

Communicants  added  in   6  Dioceses 2,136 

Total  of  Communicants  in  19  Dioceses, 36,416 

Marriages  in  11  Dioceses 5,436 

Burials  in  11  Dioceses 8,774 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  9  Dioceses 3,059 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  11  Dioceses 28,661 


342  APPENDIX. 


1838. 


Clergy  in  25  Dioceses 951 

(  Adults  in  12  Dioceses 2,522  ) 

Baptisms,  <  Infants  in  12  Dioceses 14,964  j- 18,758 

(  Not  specified  in  2  Dioceses...     1,272  ) 

Communicants  added  in  4  Dioceses 7,280 

Total  of  Communicants  in  23  Dioceses 45,930 

Marriages  in  13  Dioceses 5,719 

Burials  in  13  Dioceses 10,588 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  9  Dioceses 4,367 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  13  Dioceses 39,443 


1841. 

Clergy  in  25  Dioseses 1,053 

(  Adults  in  14  Dioceses. .  ....     4,729  ) 

Baptisms,  ]  Infants  in  14  Dioceses. . 22,496  V 34,465 

(  Not  specified  in  9  Dioceses  . .     7,240  ) 

Communicants  added  in  9  Dioceses. 3,678 

Total  of  Communicants  in  25  Dioceses 55,427 

Marriages  in  17  Dioceses 8,604 

Burials  in  14  Dioceses 14,961 

Sunday  school  Teachers  in  10  Dioceses 3,974 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  11  Dioceses. 32,265 


1844. 

Clergy  in  24  Dioceses (Number  in  3  Dioceses  not 

reported) 1,096 

(  Adults  in  19  Dioceses 7,807  ) 

Baptisms,  \  Infants  in  19  Dioceses 30,254  ^ 39,119 

(  Not  specified  in  3  Dioceses..     1,058  ) 

Communicants  added  in  12  Dioceses 12,490 

Total  of  Communicants  in  26  Dioceses 72,099 

Marriages  in  17  Dioceses 8,036 

Burials  in  17  Dioceses 14,330 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  13  Dioceses 5,037 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  14  Dioceses 40,012 


APPENDIX.  343 

1847. 

Clergy  in  28  Dioceses  1,404 

(  Adults  in  21  Dioceses 4,408  ) 

Baptisms,  •]  Infants  in  21  Dioceses 23,551  l 33,774 

(  Not  specified  in  7  Dioceses. .     5,815  ) 

Communicants  in  27  Dioceses 67,550 

Marriages  in  19  Dioceses G,826 

Burials  in  19  Dioceses 12,814 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  16  Dioceses 5,279 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  18  Dioceses 39,437 

Clergy  deceased  in  15  Dioceses 34 


1850. 

Clergy  in  29  Dioceses 1,558 

(  Adults  in  24  Dioceses 5,957  ) 

Baptisms.  ■]  Infants  in  24  Dioceses 33,072  [■  •    • .  42,925 

(  Not  specified  in  4  Dioceses.     3,896  ) 

Communicants  in  28  Dioceses 79,987 

Marriages  in  20  Dioceses 3,420 

Burials  in  20  Dioceses 16,233 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  17  Dioceses 4,520 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  19  Dioceses 38,603 

Clergy  deceased  in  16  Dioceses 43 


1853. 

Clergy  in  30  Dioceses 1,651 

(  Infants  in  24  Dioceses 89,565  ) 

Baptisms,  -j  Adults  in  24  Dioceses 6,531  [• 48,157 

(  Not  specified  in  4  Dioceses..     2,061  ) 

Communicants  in  30  Dioceses  105,136 

Marriages  in  24  Dioceses 12,974 

Burials  in  24  Dioceses 23,558 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  18  Dioceses 5,531 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  22  Dioceses 62,376 

Clergy  deceased  in  18  Dioceses 42 

Number  of  Churches  in  7  Dioceses. 454 

Number  of  Parishes  and  Congregations  in  22  Dioceses  1,150 


?A4:  APPENDIX. 

1856. 

Clergy  in  31  Dioceses 1,828 

(  Infants  in  26  Dioceses 56,132  ) 

Baptisms,  <  Adults  in  26  Dioceses l),o42  v 70,537 

(  Not  specified  in  4  Dioceses. . .  4,853  ) 

Communicants  in  31  Dioceses 119,540 

Marriages  in  30  Dioceses 21,334 

Burials  in  30  Dioceses 36,925 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  20  Dioceses 9,235 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  25  Dioceses. ..  ^ 82,014 

Clergy  deceased  in  22  Dioceses 58 

Number  of  Churches  in  6  Dioceses 335 

Number  of  Parishes  in  29  Dioceses 1,825 


1859. 

Clergy  in  33  Dioceses 2,065 

T,     ,.            (  Infants  in  33  Dioceses 74,553  )  c^q  oqo 

Baptisms,    |  ^^^^^^  ^^  33  Dioceses 14,729  p  " " '  ^^'^^^ 

Communicants  in  33  Dioceses 139,611 

Marriages  in  32  Dioceses 21,225 

Burials  in  32  Dioceses 37,021 

Sunday  school  Teachers  in  27  Dioceses 14,019 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  31  Dioceses 113,912 

Clergy  deceased  in  22  Dioceses "^^ 

Number  of  Churches  in  27  Dioceses 1.395 

Number  of  Parishes  in  33  Dioceses 2,120 

1862. 

Clergy  in  23  Dioceses 2,286 

_,     ,.            (  Infants  in  23  Dioceses...    .60,449)  71  fjQQ 

Baptisms,   -j  ^^^^^^  .^  33  Djoceses 11,084  I  • "  * "  ^^'^^^ 

Communicants  in  23  Dioceses 124,340 

Marriages  in  22  Dioceses 17,028 

Burials  in  22  Dioceses 33,095 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  22  Dioceses 3,897 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  22  Dioceses 123,011 

Clergy  deceased  in  16  Dioceses 52 

Number  of  Churches  in  17  Dioceses 1,144 

Number  of  Parishes  in  22  Dioceses 1,728 


APPENDIX.  345 

1865. 

Clergy  in  33  Dioceses 2,450 

!  Infants  in  24  Dioceses 66,954  ) 

Adults  in  24  Dioceses 1^,153  V 80,621 
Not  specified  in  1  Diocese, . .        514  ) 

Communicants  in  24  Dioceses 148,068 

Marriages  in   24  Dioceses 20,836 

Burials  in  24  Dioceses 45,836 

Sunday-school  Teachers  in  18  Dioceses 14,728 

Sunday-school  Scholars  in  19  Dioceses 132,588 

Number  of  Churches  in  17  Dioceses 1,230 

Number  of  Parishes  in  20  Dioceses 1,687 

Contributions  in  21  Dioceses $6,471,669  20 


1868. 

Number  of  Dioceses* 35 

Number  of  Bishops  and  Clergy.    2,662 

Number  of  Lay  Readers  Licensed  in  1866-8  in  12  Dio- 
ceses   133 

Present   Number  of   Lay  Readers  Licensed  in  20  Dio- 
ceses   268 

Number  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders  admitted  1866-8 

in  21  Dioceses 333 

Present  Number  of  Candidates  in  31  Dioceses 349 

Deacons  Ordained  1866-8  in  31  Dioceses 312 

Presbyters  Ordained  1866-8  in  33  Dioceses 281 

Number  without  Cure  1868  in  26  Dioceses 216 

Number  of  Parishes  Organized  1866-8  in  26  Dioceses . .  198 
Present  Number  of  Parishes  reported  in  32  Dioceses. .  2,299 
Present  Number  of  Churches  and  Chapels  in  27  Dio- 
ceses   1,857 

(  Infants  1866-8  in  31  Dioceses  77,869  ) 

Baptisms,  ^  Adults  1866-8  in  31  Dioceses  18,394  I 99,720 

(  Not  specified  in  4  Dioceses. ,     3,457  ) 

Confirmations  1866-8  in  33  Dioceses 59,940 

Marriages  1866-8  in  34  Dioceses.  .  . . , ,  ,  30,200 


*  Fonr  additional  Dioceses  were  created  by  action  of  this  Convention^ 
the  statistics  of  wtiich  are  included  in  the  reports  of  the  Dioceses  front 
which  they  were  made. 


346  APPENDIX. 

Burials  186G-8  in  34  Dioceses 48,542 

Communicants  added  1866-8  in  22  Dioceses 53,049 

Communicants  1868  in  34  Dioceses 195,183 

Sunday-school  Teachers  1868  in  29  Dioceses 21,4^8 

Sunday-school  Scholars  1868  in  33  Dioceses 188,132 

Number  of  Parish  Schools  1868  in  21  Dioceses 183 

Amount  of  Contributions  1866-8  in  35  Dioceses. $11,291,655  00 
Number  Parishes  not  reporting  to  Convention  1866-8  in 

11  Dioceses 315 

1871. 

Number  of  Dioceses* 40 

Number  of  Bishops  and  Clergy 2,876 

Present  Number  of  Lay  Readers  Licensed  in  28  Dio- 
ceses and  4  Missionary  Districts 536 

Number  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders  admitted  1868- 

71  in  40  Dioceses  and  2  Missionary  Districts 609 

Present  Number  of  Candidates  in  39  Dioceses  and  4 

Missionary  Districts 462 

Deacons  Ordained  1868-71  in  40  Dioceses  and  1  Mis- 
sionary District  378 

Priests  Ordained  1868-71  in  39  Dioceses  and  4  Mission- 
ary Districts 301 

Clergy  without  Cure  in  38  Dioceses  and  2  Missionary 
Districts  (no  reports  from  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania)          272 

Clergy  receiving  Missionary  Stipends  in  32  Dioceses 

and  6  Missionary  Districts 521 

Number  of  Parishes  Organized  1868-71  in  38  Dioceses 

and  2  Missionary  Districts.  ., 257 

Whole  Number  of  Parishes  in  40  Dioceses  and  6  Mis- 
sionary Districts 2,767 

Number  of  Missions  in  28  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary 

Districts 626 

Churches  Consecrated  18C8-71  in  36  Dioce^x>s  and  2  Mis- 
sionary Districts  241 

*  One  additional  Diocese  was  created  by  action  of  this  Convention,  the 
statistics  of  which  are  included  in  that  of  Pcunsylvania,  from  which  the 
Diocese  was  made. 


APPEX]>ix.  347 


2.84: 


731 


Whole  Number  of  Churches  and  Chapels  October  1, 
1871,  in  40  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary  Districts 

Number  of  Rectories  in  34  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary 
Districts  (no  reports  from  Alabama,  Florida,  Illi- 
nois, Long  Island,  Massachusetts,  and  New  York). 

Value  of  Churches  and  Chapels  as  reported  by  16  Dio- 
ceses and  4  Missionary  Districts  (no  reports  from 
Albany,  Arkansas,  California,  Connecticut,  Dela- 
ware, Florida,  Georgia,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kentucky, 
Long  Island,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts, 
Missouri,  New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Rhode  Island' 
South  Carolina,  and  Virginia) $6,985,651  00 

Value  of  Rectories  in  15  Dioceses  and  3  Missionary 

^^«*^"^<^*« 1,244,025  00 

Value  of  Other  Church  Property  in  14  Dioceses 

and  1  Missionary  District 1  0(jS  507  00 

Value  of  Church  Property  in  19  Dioceses  and  7 
Missionary  Districts  (no  reports  from  Arkan- 
sas, California,  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Flor- 
ida, Georgia,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Long  Island, 
Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  Mis- 
souri, New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  North   Carolina,  Ohio,  Rhode  Island, 

South  Carolina,  and  Virginia ) 16,466,408  33 

Baptisms  reported  1868-71  : 

Infants  in  39  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary 

Districts 92  274 

Adults  in  the  same 22  476 

Not  specified  in  14  Dioceses 3,357 


Total  Number  Baptisms  1868-71  in  40  Dio- 
ceses and  5  Missionary  Districts 117  269 

Confirmations  1868-71  in  40  Dioceses  and  3  Missionj^ry 

,,     ^^'*"^^^ :       70,396 

Marriages  1868-71   in  40  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary 

^      ^^^*"^*^ 30,867 

Burials  1868-71  in  the  same 50  843 

Communicants  added  in  33  Dioceses  and  2  Missionary 

I^^stricts 75-^26 


348  APPENDIX. 

Communicants  Lost  by  Death  or  Removal  in  30  Dio- 
ceses and  1  Missionary  District 34,496 

Whole  Number  of  Communicants  in  40  Dioceses  and 

7  Missionary  Districts .* 236,929 

Number  of  Sunday-school  Catechists  or  Teachers  in 

bO  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary  Districts 25,851 

Number  of  Catechumens  in  39  Dioceses  and  5  Miasiou- 

ary  Districts 233,565 

Number  of  Parish  Schools  in  26  Dioceses  and  2  Mis- 
sionary Districts  (no  reports  from  Arkansas,  Con- 
necticut, Delaware.  Florida,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ken- 
tucky, Massachusetts,  Michigan,  New  Hampshire, 
New  York,  Ohio,  Pennsylania) 210 

Number  of  Asylums  for  Orphans  in  17  Dioceses  and  1 

Missionary  District 30 

Number  of  Church  Hospitals  in  13  Dioceses  and  2  Mis- 
sionary Districts 17 

Number  of  Church  Homes  for  the  Aged  and  Infirm  in 

17  Dioceses 22 

Offerings  1868-71  for  Diocesan  Missions  in   34 

Dioceses $417,156  39 

Total  Offerings  for  Religious  Purposes  in  38  Dio- 
ceses and  7  Missionary  Districts 16,384,112  45 

1874. 

Number  of  Dioceses 41 

Number  of  Missionary  Jurisdictions 8 

Number  of  Bishops  and  Clergy 3,086 

Number  of  Lay  Readers  in  24  Dioceses  and  6  Mission- 
ary J  urisdictions 598 

Number  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders  in  37  Dioceses 

and  5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 333 

Deacons  Ordained   in  38  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 410 

Priests  Ordained  in  38  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   310 

Whole  Number  of  Parishes  in  38  Dioceses  and  4  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 2,741 

Number  of  Missions  in  32  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 918 


APPENDIX.  349 

Churches  Consecrated  in  37  Dioceses  and  3  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 204 

WTiole  number  of  Churches  and  Chapels  in  34  Dioceses 

and  8  Missionary  Jurisdictions 2,620 

Number  of  Rectories  in  33  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 763 

Baptisms  reported  1871-74 : 

Infants  in  39  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 95,164 

Adults  in  same 22,120 

Total  Baptisms 122,640 

Confirmations  in  40  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions      73,270 

Marriages  in  40  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary  Jurisdictions    83,052 

Burials  in  39  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary  Jurisdictions.     59,738 

Communicants  added  in  23  Dioceses  and  3  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 42,331 

Present  Number  of  Communicants  in  40  Dioceses  and 

8  Missionary  Jurisdictions 282,359 

Number  of  Sunday-school  Teachers  in  38  Dioceses  and 

4  Missionary  Jurisdictions 32,920 

Number  of  Sunday-school  Scholars  in  40  Dioceses  and 

5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 301,587 

Number  of  Parish  School  Teachers  in  23  Dioceses  and 

4  Missionary  Jurisdictions 2,500 

Number  of  Parish  School  Scholars  in  24  Dioceses  and 

5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 36,943 

Number  of  Church  Hospitals  in  17  Dioceses  and  3  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 34 

Number  of  Church  Orphan  Asylums  in  20  Dioceses  and 

1  Missionary  Jurisdiction, 33 

Number  of  Church  Homes  in  17  Dioceses 25 

Number  of  Academic  Institutions  in  27  Dioceses  and  2 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 48 

Number  of  Collegiate  Institutions  in  16  Dioceses  and  2 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 19 

Number  of  Theological  Institutions  in  15  Dioceses  and 

2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 17 

Communion  Alms  reported  in  31  Dioceses  and  1 

Missionary  Jurisdiction $536,317  93 


350  APPENDIX. 

Episcopal  Fund,  Total  Income  in  35  Dioceses  and 

1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 442,136  20 

Diocesan  Expenditures,  Convention,  etc.,  in  36 

Dioceses 199,564  21 

Offerings  for  Diocesan  Missions  in  35  Dioceses 

and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 464,517  25 

Offerings  for  Domestic  Missions  in  34  Dioceses 

and  2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 496,527  10 

Offerings  for  Home  Missions  for  Colored  People 

in  21  Dioceses  and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction  34,494  62 
Offerings  for  Indian  Missions  in  16  Dioceses  and  1 

Missionary  Jurisdiction 64,472  23 

Offerings  for  Foreign  Missions  in  32  Dioceses  and 

2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 231,701  76 

Offerings  for  Education  of  the  Ministry  in  30  Dio- 
ceses        170,031  00 

Offerings  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Clergy  Fund  in  24 

Dioceses  and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 125,522  02 

Offerings  for  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Clergy  in  7 

Dioceses 35,398  33 

Offerings  for  Other  and  Miscellaneous  Charities 

in  19  Dioceses 830,316  93 

Total  of  Charitable  Offerings  and  Income  in  39 

Dioceses  and  7  Missionary  Jurisdictions 11,622,836  77 

Total  of  Salaries  and  Parochial  Expenses  in  25 

Dioceses 6,400,167  88 

Total  of  Religious  Contributions  in  39  Dioceses 

and  7  Missionary  Jurisdictions 17,964,024  65 

1877. 

Number  of  Dioceses 45 

Number  of  Missionary  Jurisdictions 13 

Lay  Readers  in  33  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions    786 

Candidates  for  Holy  orders  in  42  Dioceses  and  4 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 376 

Deacons  Ordained  in  42  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 363 

Priests  Ordained  in  42  Dioceses  and  6  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 348 


Baptisms,   - 


APPENDIX.  351 

Bishops  and  Clergy  in  43  Dioceses  and  9  Mission- 
ary Jurisdictions 3,082 

Parishes  in  39  Dioceses  and  6  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions   2,401 

Missions  in  36  Dioceses  and  G  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions    959 

Churches  Consecrated  in  38  Dioceses  and  7  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 200 

Churches  and  Chapels  in  39  Dioceses  and  9  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 3,053 

Rectories  in  38  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions   832 

Infants  in  41  Dioceses  and  9  Mis- 1 

siouary  Jurisdictions 101,847  !  ^og  757 

Adults  in  the  same 25,302  j 

t  Not  Specified 2,608  J 

Confirmations    in  43   Dioceses  and  9  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 77,638 

Marriages  in  42  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   29,351 

Burials  in  42  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions   61,200 

Communicants  added  in  29  Dioceses  and  6  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 33,299 

Communicants  in   43  Dioceses  and  9  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 297,387 

Sunday-School  Teachers  in  42  Dioceses  and  7  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 30,323 

Sunday-School  Scholars  in  43  Dioceses  and  7  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 250,984 

Parish-School  Teachers  in  22  Dioceses  and  2  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 817 

Parish-School  Scholars  in  20  Dioceses  and  3  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 10,047 

Church  Hospitals  in  20  Dioceses  and  2  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 27 

Church  Orphan  Asylums  in  20  Dioceses  and  1  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdiction 30 

Church  Homes  in  21  Dioceses 34 


352  APPENDIX. 

Academic  Institutions  in  26  Dioceses  and  6  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 81 

Collegiate  Institutions  in  13  Dioceses  and  2  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 14 

Theological  Institutions  in  15  Dioceses  and  1  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdiction 16 

Communion  Alms  in  32  Dioceses  and  3  Missionary 

Jurisdictions ...   $551,892  87 

Episcopal  Fund,  Total  Income  in  40  Dioceses  and 

2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 438,348  86 

Diocesan   Expenditures,    Convention,  etc.,  in  39 

Dioceses  and  2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 176,212  08 

Offerings  for  Diocesan  Missions  in  40  Dioceses  and 

6  Missionary  Jurisdictions 500,7(56  40 

Offerings  for  Domestic    Missions  in  37  Dioceses 

and  5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 461,606  17 

Offerings  for  Home  Missions  for  Colored  People 

in  27  Dioceses  and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction.  .       35,280  77 

Offerings  for  Indian  Missions  in  24  Dioceses  and  2 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 74,374  80 

Offerings  for  Foreign  Missions  in  38  Dioceses  and 

5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 231,303  30 

Offerings  for  Education  for  tbc  Ministry  in  30  Dio- 
ceses and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 129,604  05 

Offerings  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Clergy  Fund  (in- 
cluding, in  7  Dioceses,  the  offerings  for 
Widows  and  Orphans  of  Clergy)  in  30  Dio- 
ceses and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 142,265  62 

Offerings  for  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Clergy  in  7 

Dioceses , 53,835  67 

Offerings  for  Other  and  Miscellaneous  Charities  in 

33  Dioceses  and  2  Missionary   Jurisdictions. .  4,116,493  00 

Total  of  Charitable  Offerings  and  Income  (includ- 
ing, in  three  Dioceses,  the  amount  of  Salaries 
and  Parochial  Expenses)  in  40  Dioceses  and  6 
Missionary  Jurisdictions   8,725,082  20 

Total  of  Salaries  and  Parochial  Expenses  in  31 

Dioceses  and  4  Missionary  Jurisdictions 11,025,418  78 

Total  Offerings  for  Religious  Purposes  in  43  Dio- 
ceses and  9  Missionary  Jurisdictions 21 ,535,506  58 


APPENDIX.  353 


1880. 

Number  of  Dioceses 48 

Number  of  Missionary  Jurisdictions. 13 

Lay    Readers  in  37  Dioceses    and   7   Missionary 

Jurisdictions .  951 

Candidates  for  Holy  Orders  in  41  Dioceses  and  7 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 387 

Deacons  Ordained  in  46  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 388 

Deacons  in  47  Dioceses  and  10  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   310 

Priests  ordained  in  45  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 330 

Priests  in  48  Dioceses  and  13  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions   2,983 

Whole  Number  of  Clergy  in  48  Dioceses  and  13 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 3,355 

Parishes  in  48  Dioceses  and  7  Missionary  Jurisdic- 
tions   2,917 

Missions  in  41  Dioceses  and  10  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions  •  1,295 

Corner-stones  laid  in  30  Dioceses  and  4  Mission- 
ary Jurisdictions 97 

Churches  Consecrated  in  43  Dioceses  and  7  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 220 

Churches  and  Chapels  in  46  Dioceses  and  13  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 3,511 

Free  Churches  and  Chapels  in  29  Dioceses  and  9 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 1,233 

Rectories  in  44  Dioceses  and  10  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   1,091 

Families  in  33  Dioceses  and  6  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   101,724 

Number  of  Souls  in  26  Dioceses  and  5  Missionary 

Jurisdictions  *. .  •  255,470 


354 


APPENDIX. 


Infants  in  45  Dioceses  and  13  Mis-  " 

sionary  Jurisdictions 109,214 

Adults  in  45  Dioceses  and 

„      .  12   Missionary  Jurisdic- 

Baptisms,  i     ^.^^^ 23_^gg  «.  137.617 

Not  specified  in  3  Dioceses 
and  1  Missionary  Juris- 
diction      4,934 

Confirmations  in  48  Dioceses  and  13  Missionary- 
Jurisdictions 79,011 

Marriages  in  48  Dioceses  and  12  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   32,962 

Burials  in  48  Dioceses  and  13  Missionary  Juris- 
dictions   65,282 

Communicants  added  in  29  Dioceses  and  6  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions. 57,304 

Communicants  died  in  26  Dioceses  and  4  Mission- 
ary Jurisdictions 7,752 

Communicants  in  48  Dioceses  and  13  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 344,789 

Sunday-School  Teachers  in  46  Dioceses  and  9  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 31,304 

Sunday-School   Scholars  in  47   Dioceses  and- 13 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 287,253 

Parish-School  Teachers  in  25  Dioceses  and  7  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 920 

Parish-School  Scholars  in  24  Dioceses  and  8  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 12,287 

Church  Hospitals  in  20  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary 

Jurisdictions 33 

Church  Orphan  Asylums  in  24  Dioceses  and  2 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 41 

Church  Homes  in  16  Dioceses 29 

Academic  Institutions  in  29  Dioceses  and  9  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 93 

Collegiate  Institutions  in  12  Dioceses  and  3  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdictions 15 

Theological  Institutions   in  13    Dioceses   and  3 

Missionary  Jurisdictions 16 


APPENDIX.  355 

Other  Institutions  in  10  Dioceses 30 

Communion  Alms  in  40  Dioceses  and  8  Missionary 

Jurisdictions $562,853  93 

Episcopal  Fund,  Total  Income  in  40  Dioceses  and 

2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 495,430  91 

Diocesan   Expenditures,  Convention,  etc.,   in   42 

Dioceses  and  2  Missionary  Jurisdictions 216,680  12 

Offerings  for  Diocesan  Missions  in  48  Dioceses  and 

4  Missionary  Jurisdictions 506,832  83 

Offerings  for  Domestic  Missions  (of  whicli  in  21 
Dioceses,  $20,087.19  were  specified  for  Home 
Missions  for  tlie  Colored  People,  and  in  21 
Dioceses,  $43,843,41  were  specified  for  Indian 
Missions)  in  44  Dioceses  and  6  Missionary 
Jurisdictions 515,917  61 

Offerings  for  Foreign  Missions  in  38  Dioceses  and 

6  Missionary  Jurisdictions 274,163  45 

Offerings  for  Education  for  tlie  Ministry  in  31 

Dioceses 101,217  44 

Offerings  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Clergy  (including, 
in  9  Dioceses,  tlie  offerings  for  Widows  and 
Orphans  of  Clergy)  in  45  Dioceses  and  1  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdiction 135,296  70 

Offerings  for  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Clergfy  in  13 

Dioceses  and  1  Missionary  Jurisdiction 67,251  79 

Offerings  for  Other  and  Miscellaneous  Charities  in 

30  Dioceses  and  4  Missionary  Jurisdictions,..  1,983,285  96 

Total  of  Charitable  Offerings  and  Income  in  45 

Dioceses  and  5  Missionary  Jurisdictions 6,602,203  67 

Total  of  Salaries  and  Parochial  Expenses  in  39 

Dioceses  and  6  Missionary  Jurisdictions 10,485,935  71 

Total  Offerings  for  Religious  Purposes  in  48  Dio- 

'Ceses  and  13  Missionary  Jurisdictions 20,251,824  94 

Parishes  not  reporting  in  23  Dioceses  and  1  Mis- 
sionary Jurisdiction 217 


356  APPE^^DIX. 


APPENDIX. 


II 

RULES  OF  ORDER— HOUSE  OF  BISHOPS. 


Adopted  1859.    Amended  1863,  1868,  1871,  1874,  1877, 
and  1880. 


FIRST  DAY  S   SESSIONS. 

1.  The  House  aball  meet  for  business  immediately  after 
the  opening  Divine  Services  of  the  General  Convention,  and 
shall  be  called  to  order  by  the  Presiding  Bishop,  or,  in  his 
absence,  by  the  Senior  Bishop  present. 

2.  Any  Bishop  appearing  in  the  House  of  Bishops  for  the 
first  time  after  his  consecration  shall  then  be  presented  to  the 
President  by  one  or  more  Bishops,  and  if  such  be  present,  by 
one  or  more  Bishops  who  took  part  in  his  consecration. 

3.  The  Roll  of  Members  shall  be  called  by  the  Secretary,  or 
the  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  session  of  the  House  last  pre- 
ceding,  or,  in  their  absence,  by  a  Secretary  appointed  pi'o  iem. 

4.  If  any  member  or  members  of  the  House  shall  have  died 
since  its  last  meetinor,  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  then  an- 
nounce, without  word  or  comment,  the  fact,  and  the  date  of 
such  death,  after  which  he  shall  say  the  Collect  for  All  Saints' 
Day. 

5.  The  House  shall  then  proceed  to  elect  a  Secretary.  If 
but  one  candidate  be  nominated,  the  election  shall  be  viva  voce. 
If  more  than  one,  by  ballot. 

6.  With  the  approbation  of  the  Presiding  Officer,  the  Secre- 
tary may,  at  any  period  of  the  session,  appoint  an  Assistant 
Secretary. 

DAILY  ORDER. 

I.  Attendance,  with  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies, 
on  the  Morning  Service  of  the  Church. 

II.  The  House  shall  meet  for  business  one  hour  aft«r  the 


APPENDIX.  357 

hour  appointed  for  the  said  Morning  Service,  unless  otherwise 
ordered  at  the  previous  adjournment.  When  the  President  shall 
have  taken  the  chair,  new  members  may  be  introduced,  as  on 
the  first  day.  The  roll  shall  then  be  called,  alter  which  the 
House  shall  be  bidden  to  prayer  by  the  President.  The  min- 
utes of  the  last  meetinof  shall  then  be  read  by  the  Secretary, 
and  acted  upon  by  the  House, 

III.  On  the  second  day  of  the  session,  after  prayers,  tho 
Presiding  Bishop  shall  lay  before  the  House  a  statement  of  his 
official  acts  during  the  recess  of  the  General  Convention. 

IV.  The  business  of  the  House  shall  be  disposed  of  in  the 
order  following  : 

a  Communications  from  the  President. 
6  Petitions  and  Memorials. 

c  Messages  from  the  House  of  Deputies  not  yet  disposed  of. 
d  Reports  from  Standing  Committees,  in  the  order  in  which 
the  Committees  are  named  in  the  First  General  Rule. 
e  Reports  from  Special  Committees. 
/  Miscellaneous  business. 

V.  The  Order  of  the  Day  shall  be  taken  up  at  the  hour  ap- 
pointed,  unless  postponed  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers present. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  prepare  and  place 
upon  the  table  in  front  of  his  desk,  each  morning  after  the 
opening  of  the  House,  a  Calendar  of  all  Orders  of  the  Day  not 
yet  discharged. 

VI.  Bishops  invited  to  honorary  seats  may  be  introduced  to 
the  President  whenever  no  other  business  occupies  the  House. 

GENERAL  RUI-ES. 

I.  As  an  indication  of  our  humble  dependence  upon  the 
Word  and  Spirit  of  God,  and  following  the  example  of  Primi- 
tive Councils,  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  shall  always  be 
reverently  placed  in  view  at  the  meetings  of  this  House. 

II.  The  Committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  un- 
less otherwise  ordered.  The  Bishop  first  named  on  the  Com- 
mittee shall  act  as  its  chairman.  The  Standing  Committees, 
to  be  announced  not  later  than  the  third  day  of  the  session, 
shall  be  as  follows  : 

1.  On  the  Admission  of  New  Dioceses. 

2.  On  Consecration  of  Bishops. 

3.  On  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

4.  On  Canons. 

5.  On  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 

6.  On  Domestic  Missions. 

7.  On  Foreign  Missions. 

8.  On  the  Prayer  Book. 

9.  On  Memorials  and  Petitions, 


£)5&  APPENDIX. 


10.  On  IJnfinislied  Business. 

11.  On  Despatch  of  Business. 
1*3.  On  (.'liristian  Education. 

lo.  A  Committee  to  prepare  a  Pastoral  Letter  ;  of  which 
Committee  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  be  cliairman. 

Each  of  these  Committees  shall  consist  of  not  more  than  five 
nor  less  than  three  memhers,  at  the  discretion  of  the  President. 

III.  No  memorial,  petition,  or  address  shall  come  before  this 
House,  unless  presented  by  the  President,  or  some  other 
Bishop  present. 

IV.  All  resolutions  shall  be  reduced  to  writino- ;  and  no 
motion  shall  be  considered  as  before  the  House  until  seconded. 

V.  Members  in  discussion  shall  address  the  Chair,  and  shall 
confine  themselves  to  the  point  in  debate.  No  member  shall 
speak  more  than  twice  in  the  same  debate  without  leave  of 
the  House. 

VI.  Every  member  present  shall,  on  a  division,  be  counted, 
unless  personally  interested  in  the  question  to  be  decided. 
When,  in  taking  a  question,  the  President's  vote  produces  a 
tie.  the  motion  shall  be  considered  as  lost, 

VII.  The  ayes  and  nays  niay  be  required  by  any  three  mem- 
bers, and  shall  in  such  cases  be  entered  on  the  Journal, 

VII.  When  a  question  is  under  consideration,  no  motion 
shall  be  received  unless  to  lay  it  upon  the  table,  to  postpone  it 
to  a  certain  time,  to  postpone  it  indefinitely,  to  commit  it,  to 
amend  it,  or  to  divide  it ;  and  motions  for  any  of  these  purposes 
shall  have  precedence  in  the  order  herein  named.  The  motions 
to  lay  upon  the  table  and  adjourn  shall  be  decided  without  de- 
bate.   The  motion  to  adjourn  shall  always  be  in  order, 

IX.  On  motion,  duly  put  and  carried,  the  House  may  resolve 
itself  into  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  when  a  chairman  of  the 
same  shall  be  elected.  The  Junior  Bishop  present  shall  act  as 
Clerk  of  the  Committee,  and  make  a  record  of  its  action, 

X.  Reports  of  Committees  shall  be  in  writing,  and  shall  be 
received,  of  course,  and  without  motion,  for  acceptance,  unless 
recommitted  by  vote  of  the  House.  Reports  recommending  or 
requiring  any  action  or  expression  of  opinion  by  the  House 
shall  be  accompanied  by  specific  resolutions, 

XL  Reports  of  Committees  appointed  to  sit  during  the  re- 
cess, if  not  acted  upon  at  once,  shall,  when  presented,  be  made 
the  Order  of  the  day  for  a  time  fixed, 

XII.  All  questions  of  order  shall  be  decided  by  the  Chair 
without  debate,  but  appeal  may  be  taken  from  such  decision. 
On  such  appeal  no  member  shall  speak  more  than  once  without 
express  leave  of  the  House, 

XIII,  Amendments  shall  be  considered  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  moved.  When  a  proposed  amendment  is  under  con- 
sideration, a  motion  to  amend  the  same  may  be  made.  No 
after  amendment  to  such  second  amendment  shall  be  in  order, 


APPENDIX.  359 

but  a  substitute  for  the  whole  matter  may  be  received.  No 
Itroposition  on  a  subject  differing  from  tlie  one  under  considera- 
tion shall  be  received  under  color  of  a  substitute. 

XIV.  A  question  being  once  determined,  shall  stand  as  the 
judgment  of  the  House,  and  shall  not  be  ajjain  drawn  into 
debate  during  the  same  session  of  the  Convention,  except  witli 
the  consent  of  two  thirds  of  the  House.  A  motion  to  reconsider 
can  only  be  made  by  one  who  voted  with  the  majority  on  the 
previous  determination  of  the  question. 

XV.  Messages  from  the  House  of  Deputies  shall  be  handed 
by  the  Secretary  of  this  House  to  the  President,  to  bo  laid 
before  the  House  as  early  as  may  be  convenient.  Committees 
from  the  House  of  Deputies  shall  be  admitted  immediately. 

XVI.  The  Committee  on  Despatch  of  Business  shall,  each 
day,,  before  the  adjournment  of  the  House,  report  any  action  of 
the  House  of  Deputies  which  is  liable  to  acquire  the  effect  of 
law  without  the  concurrence  of  this  House. 

XVII.  Two  of  the  Bishops  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Chair  to 
act  with  the  Secretary  in  preparing  daily  reports  of  the  action 
of  the  House,  and  furnishing  them,  at  tlieir  discretion,  to  public 
journalists. 

XVIII.  Bishops  admitted  to  hononary  seats  shall  be  conduct- 
ed to  the  seats  assigned  to  them  by  the  Bishops  who  introduce 
them  ;  and,  except  when  privileged  business  is  before  the 
House,  or  when  this  House  resolves  itself  into  a  Council  of 
Bishops,  shall  at  all  times  be  entitled  to  be  present. 

XIX.  None  of  the  Rules  of  Order  shall  be  suspended  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  present. 

XX.  These  Rules  shall  be  in  force,  in  subsequent  sessions 
of  this  House,  until  otherwise  ordered. 


STANDING  ORDERS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  BISHOPS. 

Adopted  1832.     Amended  1877  and  1880. 

1.  The  Senior  Bishop  of  the  Church  present  at  any  General 
Convention  is  the  Presiding  Bishop  in  the  House  of  Bishops. 

2.  The  Senior  Bishop  of  this  Church  is  the  Presiding  Bishop 
for  all  other  purposes  contained  in  the  Canons. 

3.  The  Senior  Bishop  of  this  Church  present  at  any  Conse- 
cration of  a  Bishop  is  the  Presiding  Bishop  of  that  solemnity, 
unless  some  other  Bishop  shall  have  been  assigned  to  such 
service,  on  any  special  occasion,  by  the  Presiding  Bishop,  or,  in 
his  absence,  by  the  Bishops  present  at  the  Consecration. 

4.  Seniority  among  the  Bishops  is  according  to  the  time  of 
the  Consecration  of  each  Bishop. 


360  APPENDIX. 


RULES  OF  ORDER— HOUSE  OF  DEPUTIES. 


Adopted  on  tlie  nintli  day  of  tlie  session,  October  15,  1880, 
CHARLES  L.  HUTCHINS,  Secretary, 


Title  III.,  Cation  I.,  §  i. 

[4.]  The  Rules  and  Orders  of  the  House  of  Deputies  shall  be  in  force  In 
the  ensuing  General  Convention  until  the  organization  thereof,  and  until 
they  be  amended  or  repealed  by  the  said  House, 

1.  The  daily  sessions  of  tbis  House  sball  be  opened  witb  the 
Morning  Service  of  the  Church. 

2.  When  the  President  takes  the  chair,  no  member  shall 
continue  standing,  or  shall  afterward  stand  up,  except  to  ad- 
dress the  Chair, 

3.  When  the  President  shall  have  taken  the  chair,  the  Roll 
of  Members  shall  be  called,  and  the  Minutes  of  the  preceding 
day  read  ;  but  the  same  may  be  dispensed  with  by  a  majority 
of  the  House,  to  be  decided  without  debate. 

4.  At  the  opening  of  the  session  the  President  shall  appoint 
the  following  Standing  Committees,  to  wit : 

I.  On  the  State  of  the  Church,  to  consist  of  one  member 

from  each  Diocese ;  and 
II.  On  the  General  Theological  Seminary. 

III.  On  the  Domestic  and  B'oreign  Missionary  Society. 

IV.  On  the  Admission  of  New  Dioceses. 
V.  On  the  Consecration  of  Bishops. 

VI.  On  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 
VII.  On  Canons. 
VIII.  On  Expenses. 
IX.  On  Unfinished  Business. 
X.  On  Elections. 
XI.  On  the  Prayer  Book. 
XII.  On  Education  under  the  auspices  and  control  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 

XIII,  On  Memorials  of  Deceased  Members. 
Each  to  consist  of  thirteen  members. 

XIV.  On  Rules  of  Order,  to  consist  of  five  members,  to  which 
Committee  shall  be  referred  without  debate  all  proposed 
amendments  to  the  Rules  of  Order. 

5.  'J'he  Daily  Order  of  Business  shall  be  as  follows  : 

I,  Reading  the  Minutes. 

II,  Communications  frc«n  the  President. 


APPENDIX.  361 

III.  Reports  from  Standing  Committees,  in  the  following 

order  : 

1.  On  Elections. 

2.  On  the  Admissif)n  of  New  Dioceses. 

3.  On  Rules  of  Order. 

4.  On  the  Consecration  of  Bishops. 

5.  On  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

6.  On  Canons. 

7.  On  the  General  Theological  Seminary. 

8.  On  the  State  of  the  Church. 

9.  On  Expenses. 

10.  On  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

11.  On  the  Prayer  Book. 

12.  On  Education  under  the  auspices  and  control  of  the 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

13.  On  Unfinished  Business. 

14.  On  Memorials  of  Deceased  Members  ;  and 

15.  Special  Committees  in  the  order  of  appointment. 

IV.  Petitions  and  Memorials. 
V.  Motions  and  Resolutions. 

VI    Business  on  the  Calendar. 

6  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  Calendar  of  Busmess,  on  which 
reports  fnun  committees,  resolutions  which  lie  over,  and  other 
matters  undisposed  of,  indicatincr  the  subject  ot  each  item,  shall 
be  placed  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  presented,  a  printed 
copy  of  which  Calendar  shall  be  furnished  to  each  member. 

7  At  twelve  o'clock,  unless  there  be  an  Order  of  the  Day,  or 
as  soon  thereafter  as  the  Order  of  the  Day  shall  be  disposed  of. 
the  business  on  the  Calendar  shall  be  taken  up  and  disposed  of, 
in  the  order  in  which  it  stands  thereon  ;  and  a  vote  of  two 
thirds  of  the  members  present  shall  be  required  to  take  up  any 
matter  out  of  its  order  on  the  Calendar,  or  to  make  any  matter 
the  Order  of  the  Day  for  a  particular  time. 

8  A.11  propositions  involving  expense  shall  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Expenses  before  being  considered,  except  propo- 
sitions  to  print.  x  j  + 

9  All  resolutions  shall  be  reduced  to  writing,  presented  to 
the  Secretary,  and  by  him  read  to  the  House;  and  no  motion 
shall  be  considered  before  the  House  unless  seconded  _ 

10  If  the  question  under  debate  contains  several  distinct 
propositions,  the  same  shall  be  divided,  at  the  request  of  any 
member,  and  a  vote  taken  separately,  except  that  a  motion  to 
strike  out  and  insert  shall  be  indivisible.      ^  .-in 

11  When  a  question  is  under  consideration,  no  motion  shall 
be  received,  unless  to  lav  it  upon  the  table,  to  postpone  it  to  a 
certain  time,  to  postpone  it  indefinitely,  to  commit  it  or  to 
amend  it ;  and  motions  for  any  of  these  purposes  shall  have 
precedence  m  the  order  herein  named.  If  a  motion  to  lay  on 
the  table  an   amendment  be  carried,  the  matter  before  the 


362  APPENDIX. 

House  shall  be  proceeded  with  as  if  no  such  amendment  had 
been  offered.  The  motions  to  lay  upon  the  table  and  to  ad- 
journ shall  be  decided  without  debate.  The  motion  to  ad- 
journ shall  always  be  in  order. 

13.  There  shall  be  no  debate  upon  a  resolution  which  pro- 
poses to  refer  any  matter  to  a  Committee,  or  upon  a  motion  to 
recommit  any  subject  which  has  been  before  a  Committee. 
But  the  member  who  offers  such  a  resolution  or  motion  may 
speak  five  minutes  for  the  purpose  of  explaining  its  object. 
And  if  objection  be  made  to  the  consideration  of  a  resolution 
designed  for  the  action  of  the  House,  without  reference  to  a 
Committee,  it  shall  lie  over,  and  come  up  the  next  day  as  un- 
finished business.  But  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members 
present,  the  House  may  at  once  consider  the  resolution.  All 
messages  from  the  House  of  Bishops  communicating  any  leg- 
islative action  on  their  part,  shall,  without  debate,  be  referred 
to  the  proper  Committee. 

13.  All  amendments  shall  be  considered  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  moved.  When  a  proposed  amendment  is  under  con- 
sideration, a  motion  to  amend  the  same  may  be  made.  No 
after  amendment  to  such  second  amendment  shall  be  in  order ; 
but  when  an  amendment  to  an  amendment  is  under  consider- 
ation, a  substitute  to  tlie  whole  matter  may  be  received.  _  No 
proposition  on  a  subject  different  from  the  one  under  consider- 
ation shall  be  received  under  color  of  an  amendment  or  substi- 
tute. 

14.  In  all  questions  decided  numerically,  the  motion  to  re- 
consider must  be  made  by  one  Deputy,  and  seconded  by  another 
who  voted  in  the  majority  ;  or,  in  case  of  equal  division,  by 
those  who  voted  in  the  negative  ;  and  in  case  of  a  vote  by 
Orders,  where  there  is  a  concurrence  of  both  Orders,  a  motion 
to  reconsider  shall  be  made  by  a  majority  of  a  Deputation  from 
any  Diocese  of  either  Order  voting  in  the  majority  ;  and  in  case 
of 'a  non-concurrence  of  Orders,  the  motion  to  reconsider  shall 
come  from  a  majority  of  a  Deputation  from  a  Diocese  of  that 
Order  which  gave  the  majority  in  the  negative  ;  and  in  either 
case,  a  motion  to  reconsider  shall  be  seconded  by  a  majority  of 
any  Deputation  of  either  Order,  without  regard  to  its  previous 
vote.  And  all  motions  to  reconsider  shall  be  made  and  seconded 
on  the  day  the  vote  is  taken,  or  the  next  succeeding  day. 

15.  The  Reports  of  all  Committees  shall  be  in  writing,  and 
shall  be  received  of  course,  and  without  motion  for  acceptance, 
unless  recommitted  by  a  vote  of  the  House.  All  Reports  recom- 
mending or  requiring  any  action  or  expression  of  opinion  by 
the  House  shall  be  accompanied  by  a  resolution  for  the  action 
of  the  House  therein. 

16.  No  new  business  shall  be  introduced  for  the  consideration 
of  the  House  after  the  twelfth  day  of  its  session,  except  by  a 
vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  members  present. 


APPENDIX.  •  363 

17.  Whenever  the  election  or  confirmation  of  a  Bishop  is 
under  consideration,  the  House  shall  sit  with  closed  doors. 

18.  All  questions  of  order  shall  be  decided  bv  the  Chair  with- 
out debate  ;  but  any  member  may  appeal  from  such  decision, 
and  on  such  appeal  no  member  shall  speak  more  than  once 
without  express  leave  of  the  House. 

19.  The  names  of  the  movers  of  resolutions  shall  appear  upon 
the  Minutes  of  this  House. 

20.  Every  member  who  shall  be  in  the  House  when  any 
question  is  put  shall,  on  a  division,  be  counted,  unless  he  be 
personally  interested  in  the  question  under  consideration. 

21.  While  the  President  is  putting  any  question,  the  mem- 
bers shall  continue  in  their  seats,  and  shall  not  hold  any  private 
discourse. 

22.  When  any  member  is  about  to  speak  or  deliver  any  mat- 
ter to  the  House,  he  shall,  with  due  respect,  address  himself  to 
the  President,  confining  himself  strictly  to  the  point  in  de- 
bate. 

23.  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  twice  in  the  same  de- 
bate, nor  longer  than  fifteen  minutes  atone  time,  without  leave 
of  the  House. 

24.  All  Committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President,  un- 
less otherwise  ordered. 

25.  When  the  House  isabout  to  rise,  every  member  shall  keep 
his  seat  until  the  President  leaves  his  chair  ;  and  before  the 
President  leaves  the  chair,  he  may  make  any  communication 
to  the  House,  or  cause  any  notice  to  be  read  by  the  Secretary. 

26.  No  member  shall  absent  himself  from  the  service  of  the 
House  unless  he  have  leave,  or  be  unable  to  attend. 

27.  When  memorials  or  petitions  are  presented,  their  con- 
tents shall  be  concisely  stated  by  the  Deputy  presenting  them, 
and  they  shall  be  referred  or  laid  upon  the  table,  unless  by  a' 
majority  vote  the  memorial  or  petition  shall  be  ordered  to  be 
read. 

28.  Reports  of  Committees  appointed  to  sit  during  the  recess, 
]f  not  acted  upon  at  once,  shall,  when  presented,  be  made  the 
Order  of  the  day  for  a  time  fixed. 

29.  No  rule  shall  be  suspended  unless  with  the  assent  of  two 
thirds  of  the  members  present. 


164  AFI'ENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


III. 

The  following  Declaration  was  adopted  unanimously  by 
the  House  of  Bishops  at  the  General  Convention  of  1880  : 

A  DECLAllATION. 

Whereas,  The  Lambeth  Conference  of  1878  set  forth  the  fol- 
lowing declaration,  to  wit  :  "  We  gladly  welcome  every  effort 
for  reform  upon  the  mode  of  the  priuiitive  Church.  We  do  not 
demand  a  rigid  uniformity  ;  we  deprecate  needless  divisions  ; 
but  to  those  who  are  drawn  to  us  in  the  endeavor  to  free  them- 
selves from  the  yoke  of  error  and  superstition  we  are  ready  to 
offer  all  lielp,and  such  privileges  as  maybe  acceptable  to  them, 
and  are  consistent  with  the  maintenance  of  our  own  principles 
aa  enunciated  in  our  formularies,"  which  declaration  rests  upon 
two  indisputable  historical  facts. 

First,  That  the  body  calling  itself  the  Holy  Roman  Church, 
has,  by  the  decrees  of  the  Council  of  Trent  in  1565,  and  by  the 
dogma  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  in  1854,  and  by  the  decree 
of  the  infallibility  of  the  Pope  in  1870,  imposed  upon  the  con- 
sciences of  all  the  members  of  the  national  churches  under  its 
sway,  as  of  the  faith,  to  be  held  as  of  implicit  necessity  to  sal- 
vation, dogmas  having  no  warrant  in  Holy  Scripture  or  the 
ancient  creeds,  which  dogmas  are  so  radically  false  as  to  cor- 
rupt and  defile  the  faith. 

And  Second,  That  the  assumption  of  a  universal  episcopate 
by  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  making  operative  the  definition  of  Papal 
infallibility,  has  deprived  of  its  original  independence  the 
Episcopal  order  in  the  Latin  churches,  and  substituted  for  it  a 
Papal  vicariate  for  the  superintendence  of  dioceses,  while  the 
virtual  change  of  the  Divine  constitution  of  the  Church,  as 
founded  in  the  episcopate  and  the  other  orders,  into  a  tridentine 


APPENDIX.  365 

consolidation,  has  destroyed  the  autonomy,  if  not  tlie  corporate 
existence,  of  national  churches. 

Now,  therefore,  we.  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  assembled  in  council 
as  Bishops  in  the  Church  of  God,  asserting  the  principles  de- 
clared in  the  Lambeth  Conference,  and  in  order  to  the  maintain- 
ing' of  a  true  unity,  which  must  be  a  unity  in  the  truth,  do 
hereby  affirm  that  the  great  primitive  rule  of  the  Catholic 
Church — Episcopatus  utius,  cujus  a  singulis  in  solidum  pars  tene- 
tur — imposes  upon  the  episcopates  of  all  national  churches 
holding  the  primitive  faith  and  order,  and  upon  the  several 
Bishops  of  the  same,  not  the  right  only,  but  the  duty  also,  of 
protecting  in  the  holding  of  that  faith  and  the  recovering  of 
that  order  those  who,  by  the  methods  before  described,  have 
been  deprived  of  both. 

And  further,  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America  assembled  in  Council,  not 
meaning  to  dispute  the  validity  of  consecrations  by  a  single 
consecrator,  put  on  record  their  conviction  that,  in  the  organi- 
zation of  reformed  churches  with  which  we  may  hope  to  have 
communion,  they  should  follow  the  teachings  of  the  Canons  of 
Nicaea,  and  that  when  consecration  cannot  be  had  by  tlirte 
Bishops  of  the  Province,  Episcopal  orders  should  at  all  events 
be  conferred  by  three  Bishops  of  national  churches. 

Attest  I  IL  C.  Potter,  Secretary. 


■These  selections  from  Faber  are  exquisite  gems."— TA^  Episcopal  Register. 


Selected  from  the  Writings  of  Frederick  William  Faber,  D.D./with 
an  Introduction  by  J.  S.  PURDY,  D.D.  229  pp.  i2mo.  Cloth,  gilt 
top.     $1.25. 

The  Congregationalist^  Boston. 
"  Profound  thinking,  gentleness  of    spirit,  devotional   tenderness  and  simplicity  and 
glowing  eloquence  of  style,  all  are  characteristics  of  the  prose  writings  of  Faber.    *     *    * 
Faber  is  known  chiefly  by  his  almost    unequaled  hymns,  but  in  prose  also  his  mind  found 
free  and  beautiful  expression." 

The  Churchman,  New  York. 
"  The  name  of  Faber  is  very  dear  to  thousands  of  Christians  of  every  class.      His 
hymns,  which  are  among  the  sweetest,  the  tenderest,  and  the  most  spiritual  ever  written, 
have  prepared  the  way  for  this  selection  from  his  prose  writings.     We  commend  this  vol- 
ume as  a  most  valuable  help  toward  holy  living." 

The  Standard,  Chicago.  j 

"  The  portions  of  his  works  which  are  brought  together  in  this  volume  are  essentially 
Protestant  and  evangelical,  both  in  their  statements  and  spirit.  Their  value  to  the  general 
reader  lies  in  their  adaptation  to  the  devotional  necessities  of  our  nature,  suggesting  lofty 
thoughts,  and  stimulating  reverent  feeling.  *  *  *  Just  as  the  Protestant  has  been 
helped  by  the  Catholic  F6nelon,  so  may  he  be  aided  by  the  Romanist  Faber." 

The  Independent,  New  York. 
"  We  have  here,  not  Faber  the  Romanist,  but  Faber  the  devout,  tender,  large-souled 
Christian  ;  his  meditations,  broad,  deep,  searching,  such  as  will  help  the  spiritual  life." 

The  Church  Eclectic,  Utica. 
"This  book  is  just  what  will  be  eagerly  welcomed  by  the  many  who  know  something 
of  Faber,  but  who  are  deterred  by  his  volumlnousness.     Here  is  a  really  valuable  book 
added  to  our  devotional  store." 

The  Observer,  New  York. 
"  Their  devout  and  beautiful  spirit  will  be  appreciated  by  all  Christian  people." 

The  Courier,  Boston. 
"The  poetic  temperament  of  the  author  pervades  all   his  works  and  gives  them  an 
irresistible  charm,  while  his  undoubted  piety  will  make  these  extracts  welcome  to  all  true 
Christians  of  every  creed."  

Copies  will  be  mailed,  postage  prepaid,  upon  receipt  of  price. 

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OLD  PATHS. 

A  Course  of  Sermons  for  the  Christian  Year.     By  John  N.  Norton,  D.D. 
531  pp.  8vo.     Cloth.     $2.00. 

"Thejr  are  characterized  by  great  simplicity  of  style,  beauty  of  treatment,  copiousness 
of  illustra'ion  and  earnestness  of  spirit,  and  these  are  the  characteristics  which  entitle 
them  to  the  popularity  to  which  they  have  attained." — The  Southern  Pulpit. 

"They  are  plain,  direct,  and  brief.  They  stimulate  attention,  and  are  sufficiently 
unlike  the  dry  and  formal  style  of  ancient  discourses  to  make  them  seem  fresh." — The 
Churchman. 

Opinions  0/ Bishops  0/  Dr.  Norton's  other  volumes.— '\\\q  Bishop  of  New  Jersey 
says:  "I  always  recommend  them."  The  Bishop  of  Missouri  says  :  "I  have  frequently, 
in  public  and  private,  recommended  Dr.  Norton's  books  "  The  Bishop  of  Kentucky 
writes:  "  They  are  admirably  adapte'd  for  the  use  of  lay-reader>."  The  Bishop  of  Iowa 
testifies  that  these  sermons  "  have  been  extensively  used  in  almost  every  section  of  my 
diocese.' 

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By  R.  Heber  Newton.     i2mo.     Cloth,  red  edge.    $1.00. 

"  This  ingenious  and  artistic  little  work  is  in  substance  a  comparison  of  Jesus  with 
Buddha  and  Socrates.  Although  the  writer  devoutly  adores  the  first  and  accords  to  Him  a 
divine  pre-eminence,  yet  he  is  very  far  from  disparaging  the  others.  *  *  *  We  com- 
mend it  to  the  consideration  of  those  who  desire  to  view  the  subject  in  its  limitless  breadth 
and  seek  guidance  for  a  more  extended  investigation,  as  well  as  of  those  who  would  have 
their  faith  strengthened  in  the  old  Bible,  and  their  hearts  inflamed  with  devotion  to  the 
peerless  prophet  of  Nazareth." — The  Times.,  New  York. 

AFTER  DEATH. 

An  Examination  of   the  Testimony  of   the  Primitive  Times  respecting  the 
State  of   the  Faithful  Departed,  and  their  Relationship  to  the  Living. 
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^  For  the  author's  reverent  desire  to  learn  the  truth  and  to  state  it  for  the  instruction  and 
spiritual  benefit  of  his  fellow  men,  we  have  only  hearty  praise,  but  we  cannot  commend  his 
reasoning  or  his  conclusions  unreservedly." — The  Congregationalist. 

"We  have  never  met  with  a  more  satisfactory  presentation  of  the  subject.  It  is  a  wise, 
temperate,  thoughtful,  and  honest  book."— TA^  Churchman, 


MORE  THAN  A  PROPHET. 

By  Charles   Clifton   Penick,  D.D.,  Bishop  of   Cape  Palmas,   Africa. 
i2mo.     Cloth.     $1.00.     Just  Out. 
A  series  of  expository  chapters  on  the  "life  of  St.  John  Baptist. 

INDIVIDUALISM: 

Its  Growth  and  Tendencies;  with  some  suggestions  as  to  the  remedy  for  its 
evils.  Sermons  preached  before  the  University  of  Cambridge,  in  No- 
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Long  Island.      210  pp.      i2mo.     Cloth.      $1.00.      Jiist  Out, 

CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

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473  pp.  i2rao.  Cloth.  $1.50. 
"A  well  told  historical  tale  of  the  seventeenth  century." — The  Christian  Union.  "The 
spirit  of  the  tale  is  noble  and  impressive." — The  Literary  World.  "  Miss  Guernsey  holds  a 
pen  of  rare,  we  might  say  of  extraordinary  power,  and  she  has  made  the  most  ot  it." — The 
Guardian.  "It  is  finely  written  and  pure  in  its  tendency." — The  Christian  Advocate. 
"  Her  present  volume  is  of  firmer  and  better  te.xture  than  anything  she  has  heretofore  pro- 
duced."—  The  Episcopal  Register.  "We  venture  the  assertion  that  no  novel  of  to-day 
is  more  intensely  interesting  in  its  exciting  events,  nor  does  any  of  them  tell  a  more  touch- 
ing love  story  more  gracefully." — The  Inter-Ocean^  Chicago. 


mFE:  ^  B00K  F0^  XmW  ¥W- 

By  Cunningham  Geikie,  D  D.,  author  of  "The  Life  and  Words  of 
Christ,"  etc.      i2mo.     Cloth.     $1.25. 

"Dr.  Geikie  is  a  charming  writer,  and  wise  as  charming.  Such  books  as  these  help  to 
form  character  and  shape  life.  We  can  recommend  it  to  our  young  men,  to  all  thoughtful 
men,  indeed.  It  will  be  found  very  suggestive  to  the  clergy  in  preparing  lectures  to  young 
men." — The  Living  Church. 

"  Dr.  Geikie  has  used  his  remarkable  talent  for  clear  and  forcible  .statement  in  a  way 
which  must  benefit  thousands  of  our  youth. —  The  Christian  Intelligencer. 


cea^iN  MINNIE; 

^      Or,  The  Feast  of  Life. 

By  Mrs.  F.  Burge  Smith,  author  of  "  The  Bishop  and  Nannette."  i2mo. 
Cloth.     $1.00. 

"  This  volume  is  one  of  a  series  giving  practical  and  familiar  instructions  on  the  duties 
of  the  Christian  life,  as  recognized  by  the  Church.  This  book  is  devoted  to  Confirmation 
and  the  Lord's  Supper,  giving  a  clear  and  distinct  apprehension  of  these  two  duties,  the 
nature  of  them,  and  qualifications  for  their  due  reception.  The  style  is  pleasant  and  at- 
tractive, and,  placed  in  the  hands  of  candidates  for  confirmation,  will  help  to  rnake  intelli- 
gent and  devout  Christians.  It  is  an  excellent  book  for  the  Sunday  School." —  The  Pacific 
Churchman. 

"  This  delightful  story  is  full  of  most  valuable  teaching.— TY/^'  Churchman. 


pmYE^D^ItE  l^ECTOI^Y; 

Or,  The  Golden  Links. 
By  Grace  Stebbing.     i2mo.     Cloth.     Illustrated.     $1.00. 

"This  is  a  very  instructive  book  for  young  people,  displaying  throughout  its  page* 
Taried  and  interesting  teaching,  told  in  quite  a  charming  way,  each  incident  illustrating 
texts  of  Scripture  and  a  portion  of  the  Prayer  Book." — The  Church  News. 

fjiE  FM^TipiS  rnepf  0F  j^iNQFiNNEN, 

And,  The  Guardian  Angels. 
By  L.  T.  Meade, author  of  "Scamp  and  I,''  "  Water  Gipsies,"  etc.     i2mo. 
Cloth.     $1.00. 
"  The  writer  has  the  same  gift  of  reaching  the  heart  so  noticeable  in  Hesba  Stretton's 
stories,  and  the  same  style  of  painting  a  good  les.son  in  a  pleasant  style." — Faith  and 
Work. 

Copies  will  be  mailed,  postage  prepaid,  on  receipt  of  price. 

THOMAS  WIIITTAKER,  Publisher,  2  1 3  Bible  Hou8«,  \m  YorL 


